Andy Murray closed in on a qualification berth for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals after a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Julien Benneteau in the second round of the BNP Paribas Masters.
The eighth seed is guaranteed his seventh consecutive year of qualifying for the season finale, which will be held at The O2 arena in London, should he reach the Paris quarter-finals.
His last hurdle will be facing ninth seed Grigor Dimitrov in the next round.
Meanwhile, Kei Nishikori stayed on course to qualify for the ATP World Tour Finals, after reaching the third round.
The Japanese ace, who is currently in sixth place in the Emirates ATP Race To London, recorded his 50th match win of the year with a 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-3 victory over Tommy Robredo. Sixth seed Nishikori will next meet No. 10 seed and 2008 titlist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
Results from the Paris Masters Men’s Singles Round 2 matches
Gael Monfils (France) beat 13-John Isner (U.S.) 6-4 7-6(4)
6-Kei Nishikori (Japan) beat Tommy Robredo (Spain) 6-7(4) 6-2 6-3
10-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) beat Jurgen Melzer (Austria) 6-2 4-6 6-2
Lucas Pouille (France) beat 16-Fabio Fognini (Italy) 7-6(5) 7-6(7)
2-Roger Federer (Switzerland) beat Jeremy Chardy (France) 7-6(5) 6-7(5) 6-4
9-Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) beat Pablo Cuevas (Uruguay) 6-0 6-3
12-Feliciano Lopez (Spain) beat Sam Querrey (U.S.) 6-4 6-4
8-Andy Murray (Britain) beat Julien Benneteau (France) 6-3 6-4
4-David Ferrer (Spain) beat David Goffin (Belgium) 6-3 2-6 6-3
11-Roberto Bautista (Spain) beat Richard Gasquet (France) 6-4 6-2
7-Milos Raonic (Canada) beat Jack Sock (U.S.) 6-3 5-7 7-6(4)
3-Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) beat Dominic Thiem (Austria) 6-4 7-6(6)
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