French Open 2017: Stanislas Wawrinka overcomes spirited Gael Monfils to reach last eight

The US Open champion will face Marin Cilic in the quarter-finals on Wednesday after the seventh seed Cilic progressed with South African opponent Kevin Anderson forced to retire injured trailing 3-6 0-3 in their quarter-final.

"It was tough conditions, a lot of tension because we know each other so well, and so I am happy to get through this match," said Wawrinka.

"I was expecting him to have a lot of support, but I thought the crowd were very fair, and I am happy with everything.

Looking ahead to his next opponent, the Swiss added: "Marin is playing very well here, playing very aggressive. We had some battles in the past, I think it is going to be important for me to prepare well, serve well, and dictate from the baseline.

Wawrinka's progress hinged on a 77-minute second set with the Swiss winning an epic tie-break 9-7 before rampaging clear in the third set to book his place in the last eight.

He squandered three set points in the second set tie-break, but prevailed on his fourth attempt.

15th seed Monfils had made a match of it for the first two sets, but appeared to run out of steam with the home crowd in Paris left disappointed despite doing their best to encourage their man on windy conditions on Philippe Chatrier.

Wawrinka - who has yet to drop a set in the tournament - was a break down in the opening set but played tighter when it mattered while Monfils, who had been struggling with injuries this season, looked suddenly out of sorts.

Mofils's exit means France's hopes of ending their 34-year-search for a men's champion at Roland Garros will extend into at least 2018.

"Stan was better than I was today," a dejected Monfils reflected. "He was able to seize all opportunities. He was able to do more things and pick up, you know, the sets.