Andy Murray has breezed into the ATP World Tour Finals after a 6-3, 6-3 win against Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov at the Paris Masters quarter-finals.
Dimitrov is now eliminated from the race for the event at London’s O2 Arena next month.
Murray will next take on world number one Novak Djokovic for a semi-final spot after the Serbian beat Frenchman, Gael Monfils 6-3, 7-6(2).
Meanwhile, Roger Federer dismissed French qualifier Lucas Pouille 6-4, 6-4 and now faces Milos Raonic, who can still qualify for the Tour Finals after his 7-5, 7-6(7) win over Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut.
Federer can also reclaim the world number one spot by winning in Paris, provided Djokovic does not reach the final.
Third seed Stan Wawrinka was knocked out in the third round when he lost 6-7(2), 7-5, 7-6(3) against South African Kevin Anderson, who booked a quarter-final spot against Tomas Berdych.
The Czech ace kept his Tour Finals hopes alive with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Spain’s Feliciano Lopez as did sixth seed Kei Nishikori who beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. The Japanese can make the season-ending event if he beats fourth seed David Ferrer in the Paris quarter finals, after the Spaniard thrashed his compatriot Fernando Verdasco 6-1, 6-2.
THE RACE TO LONDON: POINTS
1 Novak Djokovic 9100 – qualified
2 Roger Federer 8700 – qualified
3 Rafael Nadal* 6835 – withdrew
4 Stan Wawrinka 4895 – qualified
5 Andy Murray 4475 – qualified
6 Kei Nishikori 4445
7 Tomas Berdych 4285
8 Marin Cilic** 4150 – qualified
9 David Ferrer 4045
10 Milos Raonic 4020
* Nadal has withdrawn due to appendicitis
** Cilic qualifies as U.S. Open champion
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