Top-seed Marat Safin held off the challenge of Wayne Arthurs to reach the quarter-finals of the Lyon Grand Prix on Wednesday.

Safin, currently third in the ATP Champion's Race, was taken to three sets by his Australian opponent before prevailing 6-3 4-6 7-6 (10-8).

The Russian, who had lost both previous meetings with the hard-serving Arthurs, is seeking his first title of the year.

Safin now faces either three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten or Marc Rosset in the last eight.

Earlier, second seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov eased past Brazilian Fernando Meligeni 6-3 6-4 in their first round contest.

The Russian was hardly challenged by Meligeni and sealed victory in just over an hour.

Kafelnikov took the title in Lyon in 1996 but this year admits he has one eye on the Davis Cup final against France next month.

"I'm a professional and I'm going to try to win the next game," Kafelnikov said.

"But my main concern is to remain physically fit until the end of November."

Kafelnikov will meet France's Nicolas Escude, a possible Davis Cup opponent, in round two.

Elsewhere, Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu claimed his ninth straight victory in ten days, taming compatriot Julien Boutter 6-2 7-5 to advance into the next round.

"After all the games, I feared I'd be a little bit tired when I came here," Mathieu said.

"But I feel really strong and confident at the moment."

Belarus' Max Mirnyi advanced with a 6-3 7-5 victory against Belgium's Olivier Rochus.

American Jan-Michael Gambill lost 6-2 7-6 to Swede Jonas Bjorkman.

First round:
(1) M Safin (Rus) bt W Arthurs (Aus) 6-3 4-6 7-6 (10-8)
(2) Y Kafelnikov (Rus) bt F Meligeni (Bra) 6-3 6-4
A Sa (Bra) bt K Carlsen (Den) 6-3 6-7 (4/7) 6-1
PH Mathieu (Fra) bt J Boutter (Fra) 6-2 7-5
J Bjorkman (Swe) bt JM Gambill (US) 6-2 7-6
(7) M Mirnyi (Blr) bt J Benneteau (Fra) 6-4 6-2

Second round:
K Pless (Den) bt (8) I Ljubicic (Cro) 4-6 6-4 6-4
A Clement (Fra) bt (6) F Gonzalez (Chi) 6-4 6-3