Youzhny tops Simon in Japan Open play

TOKYO, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Mikhail Youzhny stayed unbeaten against third-seeded Gilles Simon with a three-set victory Thursday at the $1.2 million Japan Open in Tokyo.

Youzhny improved to 4-0 lifetime against Simon with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (5-7), 6-4 victory in the tournament's second round. Youzhny got 70 percent of his first serves in and only faced one break point.

The 2-hour, 39-minute match was tight throughout, but Youzhny got the only service break of the third set and earned a trip to Friday's quarterfinals against fifth-seeded and defending champion Tomas Berdych.

Berdych had little trouble in beating Andreas Beck 6-4, 6-1 behind a 15-ace attack in his second-round match.

No. 2-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga rallied for a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Richard Gasquet with his serve paving the way. He had 12 aces and was broken just once in windy conditions. He draws Ernests Gulbis, who was ahead 6-3, 4-1 when Juan Monaco retired with a hip injury, in the quarterfinals.

Eighth-seeded Lleyton Hewitt stopped Fabrice Santoro 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 and Edouard Roger-Vasselin beat Jurgen Melzer 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 to set up another quarterfinal pairing.

The fourth match Friday has fourth-seeded Gael Monfils playing No. 7-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka. They won their second-round matches Wednesday.