METZ, France (AP) Third-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga overcame some tough resistance from qualifier Mischa Zverev to reach the quarterfinals of the Open de Moselle with a 7-6 (5), 6-7 (8), 6-3 victory on Wednesday.
Tsonga hit 12 aces and saved six of the eight break points which the Frenchman faced in a match that lasted 2 hours and 15 minutes at the indoor hard court tournament.
Gilles Muller of Luxembourg hit 17 aces to make it to the quarterfinals with a 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) win over eighth-seeded Fernando Verdasco.
The 45th-ranked Muller, who produced his first win in three meetings with his Spanish rival, will next face the winner of an all-French contest between two-time former champion Gilles Simon and Edouard Roger-Vasselin.
Fifth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber saved five break points to progress to the second round with a 7-6 (5), 6-3 defeat of John Millman. Next up against Kohlschreiber is Paolo Lorenzi, who rallied past Steve Darcis 1-6, 6-3, 6-3.
Darcis sent Belgium into the Davis Cup final by winning the decisive fifth match against Argentina last weekend.
Top-seeded Stan Wawrinka will open his campaign against Dustin Brown on Thursday.