Lleyton Hewitt has cruelled another leg of veteran Fabrice Santoro's farewell tour, downing the Frenchman in three sets at the Japan Open on Thursday.

The 36-year-old Santoro, who is due to retire at the end of the season, watched his one-set advantage tumble into a 6-3 3-6 1-6 loss to the eighth-seeded Australian in the second round.

It was Santoro's first and last tournament in Japan. 

The Frenchman started out strongly enough, firing four aces and saving all three break points in the first set, while converting both chances he had on Hewitt's serve to win the set 6-3.

But he ran out of steam in the last two sets as the South Australian, the 2001 champion here, started to serve better before taking the last five games in a row to finish off the one hour, 51 minute battle.

"He's a great all-court player," said Hewitt.

"He always picks up a lot of balls ... He has a very unique style of play as well. His defensive game is good and I think this [fast] surface suits his game."

"So it's not easy to dictate a play against him. Another thing, he mixes up as well as anyone," the Australian said, improving his record against Santoro to three wins and two defeats.

Hewitt will play Edouard Roger-Vasselin in the quarterfinals.

Roger-Vasselin, who knocked out US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro in the first round, downed Austria's Jurgen Melzer 4-6 6-2 6-3 on Thursday.

Defending champion Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic coasted to a 6-4 6-1 win over Germany's Andreas Beck while second-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat French compatriot Richard Gasquet 4-6 6-2 6-2 to also advance to the quarterfinals.