Somdev is the first Indian to make it to the Chennai Open quarters since Leander Paes in 1998, but that, it seems, isn’t enough for this 23-year-old.

“When I saw that Moya was trying to create something different, it felt good for a player like me that he felt forced to change something. I knew I had a chance and I’m never going to quit. I’m a counterpuncher, and if you want to compare me to a boxer it would be Floyd Mayweather. However much you hit me, I’m not going to be easy to beat. I’m in the quarter-finals now, but I don’t want to be just a quarter-finalist. I don’t want to be satisfied so easily,” he said.

Qualifier Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan took till the second set to put up any semblance of resistance against third seed Marin Cilic of Croatia, who dominated in a 6-0, 6-4 win. The 20-year-old takes on seventh seed Janko Tipsarevic next. The Serbian defeated Israel’s Dudi Sela 7-6, 6-4 on Thursday.

Ivo Karlovic beat Ivo Minar of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-1, and eighth seed Marcel Granollers of Spain knocked out Andreas Beck of Germany 6-1, 6-0. Rainer Schuettler ensured a quarter-final appearance with a 6-4, 6-2 win over compatriot Simon Greul.