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Gilles Simon kept alive his hopes of qualifying for the World Tour Finals by beating Italian Simone Bolelli 7-6(5) 7-6(5) to reach the second round in Lyon.

Bolelli cancelled out the Frenchman's break but the world number 12, a semi-finalist at last year's Masters Cup, clinched the tiebreak 7-5.

The second-seeded Frenchman still has an outside chance of clinching one of the two remaining spots for next month's season-ending tournament in London.

The second set went with serve before Simon prevailed 7-5 in the tiebreak to set up a clash with compatriot David Guez for a place in the last eight.

"I have always been struggling here in Lyon until last year when I reached the semi-finals," Simon said. "I am now feeling better and better and I think I could do pretty well until the end of the season."

French wildcard Sebastien Grosjean was knocked out 4-6 7-6(7) 7-6(2) in the first round by German Nicolas Kiefer.

France's Julien Benneteau was the first to book his place in the quarter-finals with a 7-5 6-2 second-round victory over South African Kevin Anderson.

"It was not easy because he serves very well but I changed my position on the court in the return games at 5-5 and it did help," the fifth-seeded Benneteau said

"Then I was feeling I was the best from the baseline."

Another Frenchman, Florent Serra, also reached the last eight with a 7-5 6-3 win over Spain's Albert Montanes.

Reuters