Being absent from the French tournament through gastroenteritis did not stop Argentine Nalbandian, who beat world number one Roger Federer [Images] in last year's Masters Cup final, from securing another trip to Shanghai.

The 2002 Wimbledon runner-up qualified for the year-end event featuring the top eight players in the ATP Race after German Tommy Haas beat American James Blake 6-4, 6-2 in the third round in Paris.

Spaniard Robredo secured a Masters Cup berth by beating local favourite Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-4, 7-6 to advance to the quarter-finals.

Sixth seed Robredo goes on to meet Finn Jarkko Nieminen, seeded 14th, who ended the run of Russian lucky loser Teimuraz Gabashvili with a 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 win.

Nalbandian and Robredo join Federer, Rafael Nadal [Images], Ivan Ljubicic, Andy Roddick [Images] and Nikolay Davydenko in the Shanghai field.

Three players -- Blake, Mario Ancic and Haas -- remain in contention for the last spot for the Nov. 12-19 tournament.

On a sad day for the home fans, French number one Richard Gasquet pulled out with an injury in a further blow to the depleted event.

Gasquet, seeded 16th, withdrew before his scheduled third-round match against Russian Marat Safin [Images] because of a torn right thigh muscle.

His injury combined with defeats by Mathieu and Julien Benneteau, who was crushed 6-3, 6-1 by ninth seed Ancic, ended French presence in the tournament.

FOURTH TRIUMPH

Former world number one Safin, dreaming of a fourth triumph here after winning in 2000, 2002 and 2004, will now meet Haas.

Ancic faces a tough task in the next round against Davydenko, who stormed through to the last eight with a 6-2, 6-2 demolition of fellow Russian Dmitry Tursunov [Images].

World number five Davydenko is the highest-ranked player in the event after a string of no-shows.

"I'm playing really well and feeling confident but the next match could be tough," said the 25-year-old Russian, who had humiliated Belgian Christophe Rochus 6-0, 6-0 in the previous round.

Defending champion Tomas Berdych, seeded eighth, also advanced easily, beating American Robby Ginepri 6-3, 6-3.

The 21-year-old Czech won the tournament on his first appearance at the Bercy hall last year.

"To have never lost a match here is a nice feeling," he said. "Let's hope it continues".

Berdych's next match will be against Slovakia's Dominik Hrbaty or British number one Andy Murray.

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