PARIS, Nov 3: David Nalbandian and Tommy Robredo won tickets to the Masters Cup on an eventful day at the Paris Masters on Thursday.

Being absent from the French tournament through gastroenteritis did not stop Argentine Nalbandian from securing another trip to Shanghai.

The 2002 Wimbledon runner-up qualified after German Tommy Haas beat American James Blake 6-4 6-2 in the third round in Paris. Spaniard Robredo secured a Masters Cup berth by beating local favourite Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-4 7-6.

Sixth seed Robredo goes on to meet Finn Jarkko Nieminen, seeded 14th, who ended the run of Russian lucky loser Teimuraz Gabashvili with a 4-6 7-6 6-2 win.

Reuslts (third round):

Nikolay Davydenko (RUS x4) bt Dimitry Tursunov (RUS x15) 6-2, 6-2; Tomas Berdych (CZE x8) bt Robby Ginepri (USA) 6-3, 6-3; Tommy Haas (GER x10) bt James Blake (USA x7) 6-4, 6-2; Mario Ancic (CRO x9) bt Julien Benneteau (FRA) 6-3, 6-1; Marat Safin (RUS) bt Richard Gasquet (FRA x16) w/o; Jarkko Nieminen (FIN x14) bt Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-2; Tommy Robredo (ESP x6) bt Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) 6-4, 7-6 (7/1); Dominik Hrbaty (SVK x17) bt Andy Murray (GBR x13) 7-6 (8/6), 6-0.—Agencies