Gael Monfils sealed Monday quarterfinals berth at Roland Garros.

After a recital to begin his knockouts match on the Central, the Monf had to fight to get rid of the Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in straight sets, 6/0, 6/2, 7/5 after 1 hour 58 minutes of exchanges with 1h 04 min consecrated to the final set.

This is the fourth time the seeded No. 23, last French still in contention at the Porte d’Auteuil, will play a quarterfinal.

Hoping to reach the semi-finals as in 2008, Monfils will have to beat Andy Murray. The Scot eliminated in the third set tiebreak Fernando Verdasco, 6/4, 7/5, 7/6 [7-3].

“Andy and I grew up together, we played when we were already 10 years. I know him well,” said Monfils who will play a new quarter-final on clay in Paris after 2011.