Safin ends French fairy-tale

The might of Marat Safin crushed 15-year-old giant-killer Richard Gasquet at the Monte Carlo Masters on Wednesday as the Russian stamped out the youngster's threat 6-4, 6-1.

Gasquet had become an overnight sensation when he became the youngest player to qualify for a Masters event and then beat Argentine claycourt specialist Franco Squillari.

But former world number one Safin was an entirely different proposition and the Russian sixth seed clinched an overwhelming victory in just 71 minutes on a sun-baked Centre Court.

"It was tough, though he has beautiful shots," Safin told an appreciative crowd afterwards.

The 2000 U.S. Open champion had never won a match in three previous visits to Monte Carlo but now faces either Swiss Roger Federer or Argentine David Nalbandian for a place in the quarter-finals.

Safin was joined in the last 16 by second seed Juan Carlos Ferrero who fought off a fearsome challenge from fellow Spaniard Felix Mantilla to advance 6-1, 3-6, 7-6.

HARD TIME

American 10th seed Andy Roddick won his fourth tiebreak in a row, squeezing past Czech Bohdan Ulihrach 7-6, 7-6, while Jiri Novak continued his domination of French players by sweeping aside Nicolas Coutelot 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.

The Czech -- a semifinalist at the Australian Open earlier this year -- beat France's Cedric Pioline in the opening round.

At the beginning of April, Novak beat France's Sebastien Grosjean and Nicolas Escude in the Davis Cup quarter-finals, although France won the tie.

The 11th seed could face Grosjean again in the third round of the Monaco event.

"I don't know if he likes the French...but he certainly gives us a hard time," Coutelot smiled afterwards.

"His ranking shows he is a great player and he played better and better throughout the match.

"That is what makes the difference between the number 15 in the world and those in the hundreds."

Thirteenth seed Alex Corretja wasted no time sweeping aside Italy's Andrea Gaudenzi 6-3, 6-3 as the mercury rose.

After a day of rain on Tuesday, the sun finally came out in the principality and Corretja celebrated by crushing the Italian with ease.

The Spaniard, a former French Open finalist, could meet good friend and compatriot Carlos Moya in the next round after Moya beat top seed Lleyton Hewitt in the opening round.

Last year's runner-up Hicham Arazi slumped out in the second round to Argentine baseliner Juan Ignacio Chela 6-1, 6-1.

Chela may meet British fourth seed Tim Henman in the third round. Henman plays Chilean Nicolas Massu later on Wednesday.

Albert Costa, runner-up here in 1996, crushed another Frenchman Michael Llodra 6-4, 6-1.

Costa, the most successful claycourter in the draw with 11 tournament wins, next meets fellow-Spaniard Alberto Martin, who ousted Austria's Markus Hipfl 1-6, 7-5, 6-1.