But his surly demeanour just might earn him a bigger pay cheque this week.

The Swede had to use some smoke and mirrors last night to stave off elimination, beating Xavier Daufresne 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 in a tense stand-off at Centre Court at Coral Beach and Tennis Club during quarter-final singles play at the XL Tennis Classic.

He began the match just smoking.

The giant-sized six-foot-four Daufresne proved a difficult opponent for Pernfors, who up until last night had breezed through the first two rounds of the tournament defeating Paul Annacone and Robbie Weiss.

Even though Pernfors won the first set, Daufresne made life difficult for him.

With the second set tied 1-1, and Daufresne gaining the upper hand in the third game, Pernfors tossed his racquet and was issued a code violation.

"I've guess I managed to pull myself together a little bit at the end,'' said Pernfors afterwards. "I don't know why, but I walked on the court and I was in a terrible mood from the beginning. So I guess I should apologise to everybody watching here because I was behaving like a jerk for at least the first two sets.'' Pernfors began to move the ball better and his serve came alive in the third set. Daufresne also appeared to tire at the end, but his forehand "kept him in the game,'' said Pernfors.

Following the match, Daufresne was still seething about a call in the 10th game of the second set. With match point within reach for Daufresne, Pernfors lobbed the ball over the line.

"But the linesman made a movement and he didn't call anything,'' said Daufresne. "Okay, I broke him again, but maybe it could have changed a lot of things in the third set.'' Pernfors will now play Daufresne's friend, Gerard Solves of France in one of two semifinal matches today.

In other quarter-final matches yesterday, Solves surprised David Rikl of the Czech Republic 7-6 (11-9), 6-3; Ctislav Dosedel of the Czech Republic bounced Lars Jonnson 6-2, 6-4 and Franco Davin of Argentina defeated Grant Stafford of South Africa 6-3, 5-7, 6-1.

Solves continues to cut an impressive swath during the XL Classic and has captured the hearts of fans with impressive victories over David Wheaton and David Witt.

Daufresne, for one, thinks his friend has a good chance of upsetting Pernfors.

"I think he has a good chance to beat him because he has a big forehand,'' he said. "If he keeps the ball in the court and he pushes him, I think he has a good chance.'' Solves, who at 159th in the world is the lowest ranked of the quarter-finalists, continued his fantastique assault on the tournament and for the first time in his career has advanced into semifinal play.

Solves recovered nicely from trouble yesterday and won three games in a row at one point to set up the dramatic tie-breaker. He won the final set by putting together seven victories in a span of eight games.

"I played fine in the first set, but then I lost my serve and my concentration and I made some mistakes,'' said Rikl afterwards. "It was a very tough tie-breaker. I didn't feel well and I made three or four mistakes with my overhead. Sometimes you miss, what can you do?'' Rikl looked surprisingly flat considering he was coming off a victory the previous night over Patrick McEnroe.

Solves, whose congeniality on the court belies a fierce determination, produced a number of scene-stealing moments in both sets.

"I've played good in a lot of tournaments, but I've always lost in the quarter-finals,'' said Solves, eyes twinkling and speaking in a creamy French brogue. The 25-year-old has won the vast majority of his $45,420 in career earnings this year.

"I've been playing like I have nothing to lose,'' he added, projecting a soulful innocence.

Davin also made his first jump beyond the quarter-finals this year. He had previously been thwarted at stops at Casablanca, Nice, Madrid and Bologna and looks like a tough foe for Dosedel.

Ranked 109th in the world, Davin stopped Stafford by overpowering him in the final set.

Davin may not be in the top three percentile of charming people in the world, but when he is on the court all his lights go on, high beaming with a ferocious backhand.

"I played the first set very well, but in the second set I had chances that I didn't do anything with,'' he said.

"Was I too tired?'' Stafford said, repeating a reporter's question and then adding, "I don't think so. I think he just picked it up a notch in the third set.'' Dosedel, 23, and ranked 84th, peaked late in the year and said he has been watching Davin -- his opponent today -- closely.

In yesterday's quarter-final doubles match, Nicolas Pereira and Maurice Ruah defeated Mike Bauer and Rikl 6-4, 5-7 and 7-6. In the semifinal clash, Mark Knowles and Jared Palmer sank Greg Van Emburgh and John Yancey 6-4, 6-4.

Results, Schedule -- Page 16 FRENCH FLAIR -- Gerard Solves of France advanced into today's semifinals against top seed Mikael Pernfors after defeating David Rikl yesterday.