• Paris Masters

Murray on verge of World Tour Finals spot

Andy Murray is through to the third round of the Paris Masters © Getty Images

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Andy Murray is one win away from securing his spot at the World Tour Finals after moving into the third round of the Paris Masters with a straight sets win against France's Julien Benneteau on Wednesday.

Murray raced into a 3-0 lead courtesy of three double faults from Benneteau in his opening service game, and wrapped up the first set in 30 minutes.

He then went two breaks up in the second set at 4-1 before Benneteau pegged one back, but Murray managed to close it out for a 6-3 6-4 victory.

Asked if it would be a relief to finally qualify, Murray told Sky Sports: "It won't be a relief - I'll enjoy it. It's important to enjoy moments like that. If all you get from tennis is relief all the time, that's not a nice emotion to feel when you achieve something. You want to be happy about it. If I get there then I'll be very pleased. I've worked hard the last few weeks, it's been tough. I've won some very hard matches. Hopefully I can get there."

There is a possibility that Murray could even finish in the top four this season with strong showings in Paris and the World Tour Finals, should he get there.

He added: "I think if I was to do that, it would be a great effort, but I'm still quite far off number four. Even getting into London would be nice.

Roger Federer kept alive his hopes of finishing the year as world No.1 © Getty Images

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"Finishing in the top eight would be good - if I can finish in the top four or five players in the world that would be a very good effort. I've had a very tough year, a lot of questions have been asked about me, about my back, whether I still had the motivation to keep fighting. That would be a good year. Someone like Wawrinka, everyone has said he's had a great year, if I can finish close to him that would be a good effort."

Murray could have qualified on Wednesday had Kei Nishikori lost his night match with Tommy Robredo - and it looked like going that way when the Spaniard took the first set. But sixth-seed Nishikori recovered to win 6-7(4) 6-2 6-3.

Roger Federer was made to fight all the way by local favorite Jeremy Chardy before reaching the third round.

Federer completed a 7-6(5) 6-7(5) 6-4 victory at the Palais Omnisports to keep his challenge for the year-end No.1 ranking well on track.

Federer could have sealed the win earlier but Chardy, who beat him earlier this year on clay at the Rome Masters, saved two match points at 5-4 in the second set before forcing a decider with a stunning cross-court forehand winner.

The 33-year-old Federer arrived in Paris undefeated in his past 12 matches on the back of consecutive titles in Shanghai and Basel, trailing top-ranked Novak Djokovic by 490 points.

With 2,500 points up for grabs between Paris and at the ATP Finals in London, Federer is looking to clinch the year-end top spot for a record-equaling sixth time. He will also have a chance to earn points with Switzerland in the Davis Cup final against France next month.

His partner, Stanislas Wawrinka, also progressed to the third round in Paris after winning his first match in more than a month. His 6-4 7-6(6) win over Dominic Thiem, the youngest player in the top 50, ended a three-match losing streak.

Grigor Dimitrov cruised to a 6-0 6-3 win over Pablo Cuevas, while Feliciano Lopez beat qualifier Sam Querrey 6-4 6-4. French pair Gael Monfils and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga are also through. Monfils beat American 13th seed John Isner 6-4 7-6(4), while Tsonga needed three before getting past Jurgen Melzer 6-2 4-6 6-2.

Elsewhere, David Ferrer stayed in the hunt for a place at the O2 Arena with a 6-3 2-6 6-3 over David Goffin. His victory moved him up to ninth in the rankings for the Race to London.

Hot on his heels is Milos Raonic, bidding to reach his first World Tour Finals. who hit 19 aces in a 6-3 5-7 7-6(4) win against Jack Sock, though Grigor Dimitrov also remains in the mix.

"I know what I need to do, but it's too dependent on other guys, so I'm just very much focused on myself," admitted Raonic. "It's not like if I do well I have a safe spot."

Raonic next faces Roberto Bautista-Agut, who secured a 6-4 6-2 victory over home favourite Richard Gasquet.

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