Story highlights
Tomas Berdych has sealed his place at the ATP World Tour Finals
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Mardy Fish also assured of their berths at the season-ending event
Novak Djokovic into the quarterfinals of Paris Masters with a win over Viktor Troicki
Second seed Andy Murray into the last eight after beating Andy Roddick
Czech Tomas Berdych defeated Serb Janko Tipsarevic 7-5 6-4 at the Paris Masters on Thursday, a victory which confirmed the line-up for the forthcoming ATP World Tour Finals.
World number six Berdych’s win ended Tipsarevic’s hopes of playing at the eight-man London event, while also ensuring Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and American Mardy Fish’s presence at the season-ending tournament.
“It was a kind of really special day, because it was the one that decides if I [qualify] for London,” the 26-year-old told the Tour’s official website after setting up a quarterfinal match with second seed Andy Murray.
“This is my second season where I’m able to make it, and I’m extremely happy for it… These days it’s not that easy in the time of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.”
American No.1 Fish was forced to retire hurt in his third-round match with Argentina’s Juan Monaco with the contest level at one-set all and going with serve in the decider.
Monaco will face third seed Roger Federer in the last eight after the Swiss beat France’s Richard Gasquet 6-2 6-4.
Top seed Novak Djokovic, already guaranteed to end 2011 as world No. 1, came from behind to see off the challenge of fellow Serb Viktor Troicki.
Four-time grand slam winner Djokovic eventually sealed a 4-6 6-3 6-1 win in the French capital and will face Tsonga in the last eight.
“Jo is one of the home favorites and one of the crowd favorites,” Djokovic said of the upcoming match. “He is a great player, has a very powerful serve, and he kind of performs [with] as much energy he gets from the crowd.”
Briton Murray recorded his 17th successive win, powering past 2003 U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick 6-2 6-2.
Three-time grand slam finalist Murray has not lost since a U.S. Open semifinal defeat to Spain’s Nadal in September and got the better of American Roddick in 61 minutes.
“I started the match well, which against him is always important, because he plays his best when he’s ahead,” said the 24-year-old.
“He’s able to put pressure on you, and can kind of dominate the match with his serve. But because I broke him earlier, I was able to dictate a lot of what happened out there. Played very well. Very few hiccups. I played very smart.”
Also into the quarterfinals of the indoor event is fourth seed David Ferrer, who notched up a straight-sets 6-3 6-2 win over Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov.
The Spaniard will now face American John Isner after he beat Feliciano Lopez, from Spain, 6-4 6-2.
