Gilles Simon first to reach ABN AMRO quarters

Rotterdam:  Gilles Simon became the first player to reach the quarterfinals of the ABN AMRO tournament by beating Italian qualifier Matteo Viola 6-3, 6-1 on Wednesday.

The fifth-seeded Frenchman will face the winner of the second-round match between Martin Klizan and Igor Sijsling, who upset Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the first round.

Marcos Baghdatis reached the second round when his French opponent Benoit Paire retired while trailing 6-0, 6-7 (3), 4-0.

Another French player, fourth-seeded Richard Gasquet, beat Viktor Troicki of Serbia 7-6 (3), 6-1 to reach the second round.