Paris Masters Grigor Dimitrov, Andrey Rublev and Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals

(Paris) The Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (17^e), qualified quickly for the quarter-finals of the Masters 1000 in Paris by dominating the Kazakh Alexander Bublik (33^e) 6-2, 6-2 Thursday, just like the Russian Andrey Rublev (5^e), winner of the Dutchman Botic Van De Zandschulp (60^e).

Faller of world No.3 Daniil Medvedev the day before, Dimitrov will face either the Pole Hubert Hurkacz (11^e), or the Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo (21^e) in the quarter-finals.

The day after his sparkling fight of almost three hours against Medvedev on Wednesday, the 32-year-old Bulgarian, semi-finalist of the previous Masters 1000 in Shanghai in October, did not linger on the court against Bublik: he stayed there just over an hour.

“I feel as good as possible, it’s been an intense week, you have to work with what you have,” commented the ex-N. 3 worldwide.

Dimitrov will play his second quarter-final in the Parisian venue, after 2019. He reached the last four that year.

No problem either for Rublev, already qualified for the end-of-season Masters which will bring together the Top 8 in Turin, Italy in mid-November.

He did not tremble against the Dutchman Botic Van De Zandschulp (60^e), winner in two sets 6-3, 6-3 in 65 minutes.

Stefanos Tsitsipas also qualified

The Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (6^e) also qualified Thursday for the quarter-finals of the Masters 1000 at Paris-Bercy by beating the German Alexander Zverev (9^e) 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, securing his ticket to the Masters at the same time.

Tsitsipas, 26, is therefore the sixth player officially qualified for the Masters, which will bring together the top 8 of the season from November 12 to 19 in Turin (Italy), thanks to his first victory of the season against a top 10 (in 7 meetings).

Well into the match, he took his opponent’s throw-in very early, on his first opportunity.

Despite two first set points on his serve, he however let the German come back to 5-5 and snatch the tiebreaker.

A decisive game that the Greek overcame to win the first set 7-6 (7/2).

On his momentum, the world No.6 immediately broke Zverev, probably diminished by his fight the day before won against the Frenchman Ugo Humbert (26^e) 6-4, 6-7 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5) after 3 hours 29 minutes of play.

He then maintained his lead, impeccable on his serve, to win 6-4 in 1 hour 59 minutes of play.

Building on this victory against the German, recently sentenced by the Berlin district court to a fine of 450,000 euros for domestic violence, Tsitsipas reached the quarter-finals of a Masters 1000 for the fourth time this season.

He will face the Russian Karen Khachanov (15^e), winner of the tournament in 2018, who overthrew his compatriot Roman Safiullin (45^e) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.