World No.1 Novak Djokovic stayed on course for a seventh Paris Masters title with a gripping 7-5, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4 defeat of Holger Rune in the quarter finals on Friday which left the Dane sweating on a place in the ATP Tour Finals.

Djokovic was rock solid as he avenged his defeat by the tenacious youngster in last year’s showpiece. Djokovic’s victory means Germany’s Alexander Zverev qualifies for the ATP Tour Finals.

Earlier Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas maintained his stunning form with a 6-3, 6-4 defeat of Russia’s Karen Khachanov to set up a semi-final against Grigor Dimitrov.

Tsitsipas, who a day earlier secured his place in Turin, was at his shot-making best to dominate the contest.

He swept to the 300th professional win of his career, bringing up match point with a delightful drop shot that had the crowd in raptures.

“It’s working well. It feels good to have so much variety and so much diversity in the way you can play,” he said.

Dimitrov beat Hubert Hurkacz 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 to end the Pole’s hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals.

Bopanna in title round

Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden moved to within one win of capturing their third title of the season together on Saturday, when they overcame Harri Heliovaara and Mate Pavic 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 10-6.

If Bopanna and Ebden triumph in Paris, the Indian-Australian team would pass Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek by 60 points to become world No.1 in men’s doubles, according to ATP.

Aryna Sabalenka vs Iga Swiatek in semis

Cancun: Aryna Sabalenka outlasted Elena Rybakina 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to reach the WTA Finals last four in a win-or-bust group match on Friday that was halted on Thursday due to stormy weather in Cancun.

Second-seed Iga Swiatek breezed past Tunisian Ons Jabeur 6-1, 6-2, finishing 3-0 in the round-robin stage. The 22-year-old Pole will next face Sabalenka in the semis.

“I wanted to thank all the fans for coming. The conditions are so tough that without you, I don’t know if we’d find the motivation to play,” Swiatek said after the match.

In the first match of the other four-player group, Coco Gauff came from a set and 5-6 down to eliminate Marketa Vondrousova 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-3 and reach the doorstep of the semis.

The US Open champion showed great heart to turn the tables on Wimbledon champion Vondrousova.