Benoit Paire recorded just his second victory over fellow Frenchman Richard Gasquet to progress at the Moselle Open on Wednesday.
Gasquet held a 7-1 career record going into the match against his compatriot but failed to capitalise on winning the first set against Paire, who relied on his excellent service game to rally for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 triumph.
Next up will be another countryman in Gregoire Barrere, a 3-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 winner over Antoine Hoang, while Gilles Simon remains on track for glory on home soil - for a fourth time - after seeing off Marius Copil in straight sets.
Ugo Humbert could not provide another French success, losing in three sets to Yannick Maden.
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In the late game, Fernando Verdasco went down in a three-set tussle with Filip Krajinovic, the Spanish fifth seed knocked out after one hour and 51 minutes on court.
At the St Petersburg Open, Mikhail Kukushkin prevailed in a clash between two former champions.
Kukushkin, the sixth seed who lifted the title back in 2010, overcame 2017 champion Damir Dzumhur 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 to seal his place in the quarter-finals.
He is joined by Egor Gerasimov, the qualifier causing an upset as he downed seventh-seeded Frenchman Adrian Mannarino in straight sets, winning 6-3, 6-1 in just over an hour.
Eighth seed Casper Ruud avoided a shock in his last-32 tie against Alexander Bublik, albeit the Norwegian had to rally from a set down for a 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-2 triumph.
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