al was criss-crossing center court in his usual all-action style even if he is still not quite at his best. "I'm playing well but there are moments where I make a few mistakes in a row," the five-times winner told reporters. "I have to hit the ball with a little more conviction." Soderling, who beat Nadal in the last 16 in 2009, bashed Gilles Simon 6-2 6-3 7-6 on a stunned Court Philippe Chatrier. There was some cheer for the French fans though as Gael Monfils roared back to overcome seventh seed David Ferrer 6-4 2-6 7-5 1-6 8-6 and progress to meet Roger Federer on Tuesday. Monfils and Marion Bartoli reaching the last eight is the first time two French players have made it so far in their home grand slam since 2002. Australian Open runner-up Li Na, the first Chinese to reach the quarter-finals in Paris, outlasted Czech ninth seed Petra Kvitova 2-6 6-1 6-3 at the start of another humid day on which forecast thunderstorms never appeared. After a lightning-quick third-round victory over Sorana Cirstea, sixth seed Li was given a much tougher test but again impressed the tennis connoisseurs with her dogged determination. PANAMA HATS She battled back from an early break in the third set to prevail and prompted the suited gentlemen in the galleries to tip their panama hats in appreciation. "It was tough, like 3-0 down in the final set. I didn't believe I could come back, because she has a huge big serve," said Li, whose nervous husband and ex-coach could not watch. "So I don't know what happened. Maybe just my husband left and I could win six games in a row," she joked. The Serb's quarter-final opponent Fognini pulled out of Tuesday's slated match after failing to recover from a thigh injury sustained in Sunday's five-setter with Albert Montanes. The second seed is on a 41-match winning streak since the start of the year, just one behind John McEnroe's 1984 record. His progression through to the last eight will not count as part of the streak, officials confirmed, so the world number two must lift the t