Gulbis cruises into French Open quarter-finals

Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis became the first man to reach the quarter-finals of the French Open today as he eased to victory in three sets over home favourite Michael Llodra.

The 19-year-old rarely looked flustered as he posted a 6-4 7-6 (7/4) 6-3 triumph on Suzanne Lenglen Court to continue his impressive form at Roland Garros.

A single break of serve was enough to claim the first set for Gulbis, who ousted the likes of James Blake and Nicolas Lapentti on his way to the last 16.

The breaks of serve were shared in the second set, but Gulbis held his nerve in the tie-breaker to go two sets clear and once again claimed a crucial break to take the third.

Gulbis, contesting his second French Open, will meet either Novak Djokovic or Paul-Henri Mathieu in the last eight.