No. 1 in the world Rafael Nadal has overcome second Frenchman in a row - after dropping 6 games to Serra, Nadal lost only five games to Gael Monfils (6-3 6-2) but the scoreline would have indicated much more one-sided match. Until 3:1 in the second set, Monfils had break points in 4 Nadal’s service games (twice 40-0) but couldn’t break the Spaniard wasting 9 break points in all.

Nadal will meet Nikolay Davydenko who destroyed 6-1 6-1 Tomas Berdych in a match of two former champions of  Paris-Bercy (Berdych 2005, Davydenko 2006). Davydenko extends his ‘head to head’ against Berdych to 8-0.

In a match of two Masters Cup contenders Andy Roddick knocked out home-favorite Gilles Simon 6-3 7-5. Simon bravely saved 4 match points in the last game of the match, but hit forehand wide on 5th match point for Roddick. “It’s always an honor to qualify,” said the American who secured his place at Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai. “I think this is six straight years, so that’s a good accomplishment.” Simon has to wait for quarterfinals’ settlements of James Blake and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. If they both win quarterfinal matches, Simon won’t play in Shanghai because Tsonga and Blake are in the same section of the draw, therefore one of them will play in the final.

In the similar situation like Simon is Juan Martin del Potro - he surprsingly quickly lost to defending champion David Nalbandian 4-6 0-6. Nalbandian has to defend his title to play in Shanghai. In the quarterfinal he faces Andy Murray who has been in tremendous form since Cincinnati. Scottish player defeated Fernando Verdasco 6-3 7-6(6) without facing a break point. Murray has won 25 out of last 27 matches!

In the only three-setter of the day, Tsonga ousted Novak Djokovic 6-4 1-6 6-3. Tsonga had problems with left thigh in the second set but in the second game of the final set played two amazing passing-shots, broke Djokovic and hold his serve to the very end, finishing the match with an ace. Paris-Bercy is the only Masters Series tournament where Djokovic hasn’t reached “last eight”, Tsonga has had perfect record (7-0) in three-setters since US Open.

Paris - Third round

(1)Rafael Nadal (ESP) d. (16)Gael Monfils (FRA) 6-3 6-2

(6)Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) d. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 6-1 6-1

(4)Andy Murray (GBR) d. (15)Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 6-3 7-6(6)

(8)David Nalbandian (ARG) def. (9)Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) 6-4 6-0

(7)Andy Roddick (USA) d. (10)Gilles Simon (FRA) 6-3 7-5

(13)Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) d. (3)Novak Djokovic (SRB) 6-4 1-6 6-3

(11)James Blake (USA) d. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-4 6-4

(2)Roger Federer (SUI) d. Marin Cilic (CRO) 6-3 6-4