Marin Cilic advances to quarterfinals of Rotterdam Open

It took top seed and 2014 finalist Marin Cilic less than two hours on Thursday to dispatch Borna Coric 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Rotterdam Open in the Netherlands.

Tied at 3-3 in the deciding set, Cilic staved off five break points before cruising to the victory against his fellow Croatian.

"Obviously, he was showing great fighting spirit and I knew it was going to be tough in that third set," Cilic told reporters. "I just tried to be mentally strong. Just a few points decided the outcome."

Cilic, ranked No. 7 in the world, will now face 2011 runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France on Friday for a place in the semifinals. Cilic has defeated Tsonga five of six times they have played.

"I'm definitely looking forward to it," Cilic said. "It will be a tough match as always. There isn't much that will separate us. We both have good serves and powerful games. I'll have to be mentally strong and keep up my good tennis."

Belgium's David Goffin and Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych also made it through to the quarterfinals.

Goffin, the third seed, sent the hometown favorite, Dutchman Robin Haase, packing with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 win.

Berdych ended France's Richard Gasquet's hopes with a 7-6 (4) 6-1 straight-set win. Next up for Berdych will be defending champion Martin Klizan of Slovakia.

"They were two very different sets," said Berdych, who rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the first set. "I didn't show up for the beginning. Luckily I picked up very quickly, found my rhythm, then played a very good and tough first set. It was a solid tiebreak for me."

Fifth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria defeated Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin 7-6 (7), 6-1 to advance and will face Goffin on Friday.

Second-seeded Austrian Dominic Thiem beat Gilles Simon of France 6-4, 7-6 (4) in Thursday's other evening match. He will face Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert on Friday.