Chile's Fernando Gonzalez ended American hopes of a singles winner at Roland Garros when he beat Robby Ginepri 7-6, 6-3, 6-1 for a place in the quarter-finals of the French Open on Monday.

The 24th-seeded Gonzalez, who also made it to the last eight in 2003, will find it hard to improve his record as he could next face Roger Federer [Images].

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The world number one was playing unseeded Frenchman Julien Benneteau on Centre Court.

"Roger's playing great tennis... maybe you're going to have more chances with another player. But there is always going to be a chance," said Gonzalez, who has beaten Federer only once in 11 meetings.

Gonzalez, the only South American left in the draw, needed one set to adjust before confidently holding off Ginepri's attacking game.

He broke in the third game just before having straps on both of his legs and feet removed.

The Chilean, who won the Vina del Mar and Munich claycourt tournaments this year, dropped serve in the sixth game and found himself lured into a tiebreak.

FOUGHT BACK

Ginepri, the first American at this stage of the tournament since Andre Agassi [Images] in 2003, fought back from 4-0 to 4-4 but his opponent won three consecutive points to wrap up the first set after 54 minutes.

Following a trade of breaks, Gonzalez decisively stole Ginepri's serve to take a two-set lead that demoralised the world number 88.

"I should have turned it more into a grind test. A five-hour grind test would have favoured me a little bit more. I tried to end the points too quickly. I wasn't really too patient enough when he would chip the ball," Ginepri regretted.

Gonzalez, his teeth firmly in his prey, ended U.S. presence in Paris with one of the devastating forehands that made him an Australian Open runner-up last year.

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