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Gael Monfils, Ivo Karlovic reach Japan Open quarterfinals

TOKYO (AP) Second-seeded Gael Monfils overcame an injury scare and beat French compatriot Gilles Simon on Thursday to secure a quarterfinal berth at the Japan Open.

Monfils swept through the first set 6-1 but was trailing 4-1 in the second when he injured an ankle and had to call for the trainer.

Having received treatment he returned to dominate the rest of the set and clinch a 6-1, 6-4 victory.

Monfils said ''somehow I got through my shots better when I came back, because maybe I was a bit worried.''

He will meet either Ivo Karlovic or Janko Tipsarevic in the quarterfinals.

Luxembourg's Gilles Muller defeated Marcos Baghdatis 6-3, 6-4 to set up a match with Nick Kyrgios, who progressed when Radek Stepanek forfeited due to a back injury.