PARIS (Reuters) - World number one Carlos Alcaraz swept aside Grigor Dimitrov 6-1 6-3 to book his place in the Paris Masters quarterfinals on Thursday and reigning champion Novak Djokovic advanced with a 6-4 6-1 win over Karen Khachanov.
Top seed Alcaraz dominated from the outset and dropped just two points on serve in the opening set before fending off a second-set fightback from Bulgarian Dimitrov to close out the match in one hour 12 minutes.
Djokovic, a six-times winner at the ATP Masters 1000 event, delivered a commanding performance in his straight-sets victory over Russia’s Khachanov, hitting 18 winners.
The Serbian will take on Lorenzo Musetti for a place in the semifinals after the Italian youngster ousted Roland Garros finalist Casper Ruud.
Musetti, 20, fired 37 winners as he came from a set down to eliminate third-seeded Norwegian Ruud 4-6 6-4 6-4 and advance to his maiden ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final.
“He (Ruud) was playing really well and I had to play my best tennis to beat him. I am really happy that all the hard work I am doing keeps improving me. I am really proud of this win,” said Musetti.
Danish teenager Holger Rune set up a quarter-final clash with Alcaraz after taking down seventh seed Andrey Rublev 6-4 7-5 and Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime stayed on course for a fifth title of the year with a 6-1 6-3 demolition of French veteran Gilles Simon.
Russian Rublev and Auger-Aliassime secured their places at the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin on Wednesday.
Fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas served strongly to seal a 6-3 7-6(3) win over France’s Corentin Moutet and reach the last eight.
The Greek will face either Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta or American Tommy Paul who meet later on Thursday.