David Ferrer eases past Gilles Simon

David Ferrer has moved a step closer to defending his Paris Masters title with a comfortable victory over Gilles Simon.

The world number four won his first Masters title 12 months ago, and his 6-2 6-3 against the Frenchman has moved him through to the quarter-finals.

Simon failed to take two break-point opportunities during the opening set, and Ferrer capitalised to ease to an early advantage.

The first five games of the second were evenly contested, but Ferrer struck in the sixth game to break serve and it proved to be the difference in securing his passage to the next round in 77 minutes.

He will now play either Milos Raonic or Tomas Berdych in the last eight.