Top seed Mikhail Youzhny began his title defence at the ATP's Swiss Open on Thursday with a 6-3 6-4 opening defeat of Frenchman Kenny De Schepper.
One day after enjoying a photo-op fondue meal with his family at a local alpine mountainside refuge above the pedestrianised village, the 19th-ranked Russian moved through easily into the quarter-finals.
Youzhny set up a repeat of last year's final as he faces seventh seed Robin Haase after the Dutchman overcame the last Swiss in the claycourt field, Henri Laaksonen, 6-4 1-6 7-5.
At the bottom of the draw, Viktor Troicki won his second match after his return from a one-year ban for asking to postpone an April 2013 blood test in Monte Carlo due to feeling poorly.
The Serb was hammered by a tribunal and is playing on his last wild card entry with a ranking standing at 847.
He reached the last eight over Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan 6-3 6-4
The day's final match was hit by weather, with rain leaving fourth seed Fernando Verdasco level with German Jan-Leonard Struff 3-6 6-3 1-1.
The event has been penalised at the box office by the withdrawal of Switzerland's Australian Open winner Stan Wawrinka, who cited the need to rest before the start of the North American hardcourt season despite having an appearance contract with the tournament.
Youzhny continued the clay momentum that he built starting earlier this month in Stuttgart, where the winner of ten career titles reached his first semi-final of 2014.
"Always the first match is not easy," said the 32-year-old. "It doesn't matter against whom you play. Today I played good, I made two breaks and played well on my serve.
"It's been a tough season for me after injury (earlier in the year). But the season is also not over yet. There is still time for me."
Youzhny is playing the tournament for the eighth straight year and ninth time overall, holding a 13-7 record at the venue located 1,050 metres above sea level which plays much like a hardcourt.
He and Haase clashed for the trophy a year ago.
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