Melbourne - Gilles Simon broke through on Monday to earn the first Grand Slam quarter-final of his career, a victory blighted by the retirement of opponent Gael Monfils.

Sixth seed Simon took a 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 win when his fellow Frenchman and frequent practise partner had to retire trailing two sets to one on the Australia Day holiday.

"Of course I didn't want to win like this," said Simon, who will face the winner from the match between top seed Rafael Nadal and Chile's Fernando Gonzalez. "I'm sorry, but that is tennis."

Perth, Australia  - Simone Bolelli scored a breakthrough victory over world number seven Gilles Simon 6-3, 6-3 to draw his nation level with hot favourite France at the Hopman Cup on Tuesday.

The Italians went in with nothing to lose and the tie at first looked like going with the form guide as French number one Alize Cornet dominated Flavia Pennetta 7-5, 6-2.

Shanghai - France's Gilles Simon will get a test of fire in his opening group match at the Masters Cup starting on Sunday when he faces holder Roger Federer.

Simon only squeezed into the field on Monday when world number one Rafael Nadal withdrew with a knee injury, now diagnosed as tendinitis.

Federer has won the last two editions in Shanghai and hopes to end the four-year run in China for the year-end event with a trophy hat-trick.

The Swiss who quit the Paris Masters last week with back pains, has won five Masters trophies and is top seed at the 4.45 million-dollar showcase.

Andy Murray and Andy Roddick make up the remaining members of Federer's Red group.