Benneteau downs Ferrer to advance in Marseille

MARSEILLE, France, Feb 15 (Reuters) France's Julien Benneteau recovered from a terrible start to beat Spaniard fifth seed David Ferrer 4-6 6-0 6-1 and reach the quarter-finals of the Marseille Open today.

Unseeded Benneteau, who reached the French Open last eight last year, won seven out of eight break points to wrap up the win in one hour and 39 minutes.

Benneteau, 43rd in the ATP rankings, now meets Finn Jarkko Nieminen, who beat France's Nicolas Mahut 6-4 3-6 6-3.

Big serving Robin Soederling won an all-Swedish clash when he beat Thomas Johansson 6-4 7-5 to set up a possible quarter-final clash with France's Richard Gasquet.

French number one Gasquet, seeded sixth in Marseille, takes on compatriot Marc Gicquel later today.

Reuters DH DB2114