Benneteau into quarters as Martin pulls out

PARIS, June 5 (Reuters) Frenchman Julien Benneteau reached the quarter-finals at the French Open after Spain's Alberto Martin withdrew from their fourth-round match today.

Benneteau was leading 5-1 in the opening set when Martin withdrew with a back injury.

The world number 95 will next meet either fourth seed Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia or Spaniard Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo for a place in the semi-finals.

''I am very happy. Of course, I'm not happy with the way I won this match but I have to say I was also down physically,'' said Benneteau, who has been suffering from thigh pains.

''I'm lucky, no doubt about it. Now I have two days to rest, though I'm playing doubles tomorrow,'' Benneteau added.

REUTERS PM PM1701