Robredo Beats Mathieu to Earn Masters Berth at Paris

While Naldbandian was home with a bad stomach, No. 6 seed Robredo stopped Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-4, 7-6(1) in the third round to clinch one of the eight final slots at the Masters Cup.

"I think at the beginning of the year my goal, it was try to win two tournaments and try to get the Top 10 because a few years I was missing it for a little bit, maybe for a match in a Grand Slam or thing like this," Robredo said. "That was my goal."

Nalbandian ultimately secured his spot when American James Blake lost 6-4, 6-2 to Tommy Haas.

With the loss and Robredo's win, Blake stands in eighth place, but Haas and Mario Ancic both reached the quarterfinals Thursday and can move ahead of him.

Haas himself can qualify for Shanghai by winning the title, subject to results by other Cup contenders.

Also, No. 4 seed Nikolay Davydenko advanced, beating Russian countryman Dmitry Tursunov 6-2, 6-2.

Ancic had no trouble ousting Julien Benneteau of France 6-3, 6-1, and with a win over Davydenko the Croat would move ahead of Blake into the No. 8 spot.

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

Defending champion Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic rocked Robby Ginepri of the United States 6-3, 6-3. No. 14 seed Jarkko Nieminen beat Teimuraz Gabashvili of Russia 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-2, and Dominak "The Dominator" Hrbaty defeated 13th-seeded Andy Murray of Britain 7-6(6), 6-0.