Robredo, Nalbandian through to Masters

Paris: Tommy Robredo and David Nalbandian have qualified for the season-ending Masters Cup.

Robredo beat Paul-Henri Mathieu of France 6-4 7-6 (1) in the third round of the Paris Masters on Thursday to clinch his berth, and Nalbandian, who skipped the tournament, advanced because James Blake lost to Tommy Haas.

"This week, I was so nervous, a lot of pressure," said Robredo, who fought back from a set down to beat Sebastien Grosjean in the second round. "I think, after yesterday, the pressure just went. I think that now I'm on the way to do a great tournament."

The Masters Cup, which starts November 12 in Shanghai, is for the top eight players in the ATP Race. Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Ivan Ljubicic and Nikolay Davydenko had already qualified before the Paris tournament

began.

Blake is currently in eighth place in the race, but Haas and Mario Ancic both reached the quarter-finals on Thursday and can move ahead of the American.

Haas beat Blake 6-4 6-2, and Ancic topped Julien Benneteau of France 6-3 6-1. Davydenko also advanced to the quarters, beating Dmitry Tursunov of Russia 6-2 6-2.

The fourth-seeded Davydenko has yet to drop a set and has conceded only four games at the tournament. The fifth-ranked Russian had a bye in the first round.

Davydenko, who has won four titles this year, will play Ancic in the quarter-finals.

Three-time champion Marat Safin of Russia won without hitting a ball because 16th-seeded Richard Gasquet of France pulled out with a tear in his right thigh about two hours before the match.

Gasquet, who downed Safin on the way to the Lyon title last week, beat Stanislas Wawrinka late Wednesday night.

"When I woke up this morning I felt a big, big pain in my thigh," Gasquet said. "I had an X-ray and there is a small tear. I am really disappointed not to be able to play Safin."

Defending champion Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic defeated Robby Ginepri of the United States 6-3 6-3.

The eighth-seeded Berdych is still seeking his first title of the season. He improved to 48-23 overall and 8-0 at the Paris Masters.

The Czech next faces either Andrew Murray or Dominik Hrbaty.

Last year, Berdych came into the Paris Masters unseeded and ranked 50th. Still, he posted five of his six wins over top 20 opponents.

"I think it gives me a psychological advantage, knowing I have never lost here," Berdych said. "I want to keep playing like this."