PARIS, Oct 31: Top seed Lleyton Hewitt moved a step closer to the season-ending world number one ranking and simultaneously booked his passage into the Paris Masters Series quarterfinals Thursday by motoring past Russia’s Yevgeny Kafelnikov 6-2, 7-6 (7/3).

Joining Hewitt in the last eight - as well as the Masters Cup season finale in Shanghai starting November 12 - was Swiss eighth seed Roger Federer, who secured his ticket for China by defeating German ninth seed Tommy Haas 6-2, 7-6 (7/2).

Haas’ loss allowed Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero to ensure qualification for Shanghai.

Elsewhere, Thai star Paradorn Srichaphan continued his rise to fame by gunning down Argentine 16th seed Guillermo Canas, who had beaten the Thai three times in as many previous meetings, 6-1, 6-4.

But there was gloom for British sixth seed Tim Henman, as he all but conceded his Shanghai slot in going down 6-4, 6-2 to Nicolas Escude of France, who out-hit and out-thought him.

Six double faults were evidence of Henman’s failings and if Carlos Moya of Spain beats Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean later Thursday Henman will miss the plane to China - unless he makes it as a reserve.

The same fate befell the Briton here last year as he missed out on the Masters Cup in Sydney.

Hewitt, who next meets Federer, is not worried about ranking rival Andre Agassi breathing down his neck.

“I’ll just worry about Andre if I get to the final and he’s on the other side of the net,” he laughed.

Hewitt, who came to Paris after sitting out Madrid with a virus - a recurring problem for him - says he will be wary of his next rival.

“He’s a shotmaker and plays with a lot of flair. Hopefully I can go up another peg tomorrow,” said the Adelaider who said against Kafelnikov his serving had let him down at times in the second set.

Third round results:

Andre Agassi (U.S.) bt Thomas Johannson (Sweden) 6-7 (2-7) 6-4 6-3; Andy Roddick (U.S.) bt Andrei Pavel (Romania) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4; Nicolas Escude (France) bt Tim Henman (Britain) 6-4 6-2; Paradorn Srichaphan (Thailand) bt Guillermo Canas (Argentina) 6-1 6-4; 1-Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) bt Yevgeny Kafelnikov (Russia) 6-2 7-6 (7-3); Roger Federer (Switzerland) bt Tommy Haas (Germany) 6-2 7-6 (7-2).—AFP/Reuters