Newz Forum: OTHER: French Open monday's mens round-up

Marat Safin could not reproduce his earlier heroics as he fell to a 5-7 4-6 7-6 (7/5) 3-6 French Open defeat to eighth seed David Nalbandian.

The Argentine ace was quickly out of the traps taking the first two sets. Safin, who battled through two five-set epics to reach the fourth round, looked like he might launch another comeback when he took the third set. But Nalbandian recovered his poise to take the fourth set and close out an impressive victory. Nalbandian faces Brazil's Gustavo Kuerten in the quarter-finals.

Gaston Gaudio made it into the last eight after beating Igor Andreev in straight sets. In a clash that at times resembled a chess match, the Argentine clay-court specialist proved a little too seasoned for Andreev, who had caused a sensation in week one by knocking out defending champion Juan Carlos Ferrero. Gaudio seized his chance to close out for a 6-4 7-5 6-3 win.

Lleyton Hewitt made it into the last eight. The Aussie, Wimbledon champion in 2002, overcame Belgian surprise package Xavier Malisse in straight sets on Monday. Malisse pushed Hewitt all the way during a tense first set which the number 12 seed eventually took 7-5. The second set was a stroll for Hewitt and he raced through it 6-2 in 38 minutes. Malisse threatened to keep the match alive by winning the third set, but Hewitt took it to a tie-break and prevailed 8-6 to close out the match.