METZ, France — Top-seeded Stan Wawrinka labored to a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4) win over Dustin Brown to reach the quarterfinals of the Open de Moselle on Thursday.
Starting his campaign at the indoor hard court tournament, the French Open champion was able to convert just one of his 11 break chances against Brown, who beat Rafael Nadal in the second round at Wimbledon this year.
Second-seeded Gilles Simon, a two-time former champion in the northeastern city, enjoyed a more comfortable start as he dispatched fellow Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-4, 6-2.
Sixth-seeded Martin Klizan also advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 7-6 (7) win over Canadian Vasek Pospisil on Thursday.