PARIS: Andy Murray guaranteed his place at the World Tour Finals on Thursday while Roger Federer joined him in the Paris Masters quarter-finals to keep his quest for the number one spot alive.

Murray played almost flawless tennis as he breezed to a 6-3, 6-3 third-round victory over Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.

The 27-year-old Scot, who also stays on course for a fourth tournament victory in just six weeks, will now play either world number one Novak Djokovic or French showman Gael Monfils for a semi-final place.

Murray joins Djokovic, Federer, Stan Wawrinka and Marin Cilic in reaching the season-ending showpiece in London with David Ferrer, Tomas Berdych and Kei Nishikori in possession of the other three spots but not yet assured places.

Canada’s Milos Raonic is now the only player who can gatecrash the top eight but needs to win the Paris tournament to guarantee his place.

Federer kept the pressure on Djokovic in the race for the year-ending number one spot with a gritty 6-4, 6-4 victory over French world number 176 Lucas Pouille.

A crucial break for the 17-time Grand Slam winner in the seventh game of the second set, the longest of the match, paved the way for victory over Pouille, who came through as a qualifier and had only recorded one Tour-level win before Paris this week.

It was Federer’s 14th straight victory and sets up a quarter-final match-up against Raonic.

Berdych is one win from also sealing his place in London after easing into the last eight with a comfortable win over Spaniard Feliciano Lopez.

Following a first-round defeat at the Valencia Open last week, the 29-year-old Czech evened his record against Lopez at six wins apiece with a 7-5, 6-3 victory.

Chasing an 11th ATP title, and third of the year, the Australian Open semi-finalist now plays South African 14th seed Kevin Anderson for a place in the semi-finals.

Anderson won a three-hour thriller over Swiss third seed Wawrinka 6-7 (2-7), 7-5, 7-6 (7-3).

The two-time ATP winner, who had never been past the third round in Paris, converted a third match point to set up the meeting with Berdych.

Former champion Ferrer kept his quest on track to reach a second straight Paris final as he swept aside Spanish compatriot Fernando Verdasco 6-1, 6-2.

He needs to reach the semi-finals to guarantee his spot in London and will now face Japanese star Nishikori.

Nishikori is firmly on track to become the first Japanese player to qualify for the World Finals after defeating French number one Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.

Raonic kept his slender London chances alive with a hard-fought 7-5, 7-6 (9-7) victory over Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2014