MONTPELLIER, France - Defending champion Gael Monfils needed three sets to see off Belgian qualifier Steve Darcis in the Open Sud de France quarterfinals on Friday, winning 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 to set up an all-French semifinal against Richard Gasquet.

Top-seeded Monfils outscored Darcis 10-0 in aces and saved three of four break-point chances.

The fourth-seeded Gasquet had it easier, breaking sixth-seeded Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan's serve once in each set in a 6-3, 6-4 win. Gasquet is bidding for his third straight Montpellier final, having lost to Monfils last year and winning it in 2013.

Meanwhile, fifth-seeded Jerzy Janowicz of Poland downed No. 2 Gilles Simon of France 6-2, 7-5 to set up a semifinal against No. 7 Joao Sousa of Portugal, who beat No. 3 Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 7-6 (5), 6-4.