-
Gasquet: Up and down
Richard Gasquet overcame a minor lapse in concentration to move past fellow Frenchman Gilles Simon and set up a last-16 showdown with Andy Murray.
Gasquet had looked set to complete a straight-sets win but dropped the third on a tie-break then fell a break behind in the fourth before rallying to score a 6-3 6-3 6-7 (3/7) 6-3 success.
He now knows he will have the partisan crowd against him on Monday, but he says he will relish the role at the villain.
"I'm feeling great, I have no injuries and I'm ready to fight in another match," he said.
"I like to play these kinds of matches. I don't care if I'm the villain.''
Gasquet starred in one of the matches of the tournament last year when he beat Andy Roddick en route to the semi-finals and he showed glimpses of that superb form in the first set against Simon.
However, the eighth seed's level dropped in a lacklustre second set during which he twice had to come back from a break down.
World number 29 Simon was clearly warming to his task and his deeper shot play helped him claim the third-set tie-break.
He then claimed a break of serve to raise the prospect of a final set.
However, Gasquet duly rediscovered his focus and got his feared backhand firing as he booked his place in the second week.
Gasquet added: "It wasn't my best tennis, but it was good tennis for sure. Step by step, I'm playing well. I'm fighting and I'm serving well. Everything is possible in this tournament.''
He will now play British hope Murray, who was also a four-set winner over Tommy Haas.
