Djokovic labours through, London line-up

By Julien Pretot

PARIS (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic survived a wobble to beat fellow Serb Viktor Troicki 4-6 6-3 6-1 and reach the Paris Masters quarter-finals as Andy Murray and Roger Federer oozed class in brilliant displays on Thursday.

Czech Tomas Berdych booked his place in the ATP World Tour Finals with a 7-5 6-4 win over Serb Janko Tipsarevic. Berdych's win meant Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Mardy Fish also qualified for the eight-man field at the November 20-27 event in London.

The line-up for the season-ending tournament is now complete as world number one Djokovic, Rafa Nadal, Murray, Federer and David Ferrer had already secured berths.

American Fish, however, pulled out of the Paris event due to injury during his third-round match against Argentine Juan Monaco, leading 6-1 6-7 2-1 after wasting two match points in the tiebreak.

While Murray breezed past a hapless Andy Roddick 6-2 6-2, Djokovic made heavy weather of Davis Cup team mate Troicki before explaining that he was still trying to adjust to the slick indoor conditions.

Former world number one Roger Federer shone in a 6-2 6-4 defeat of local favorite Richard Gasquet in an entertaining match featuring a handful of spectacular shots from both players.

"I like playing against Richard. He is a very good player, who always has several stunning shots in his bag," the Swiss third seed said courtside.

"It's only my second indoors event after December last year, so I'm still kind of getting used to the conditions," Djokovic told a news conference.

"But I'm happy with the way things are progressing and game-wise. Health-wise I think I could be a little better," he added, referring to his recent shoulder problems.

Troicki failed to seize his chance in the second set as Djokovic saved seven break points, converting his only two opportunities to level the tie.

Djokovic, who pocketed a $1.6-million bonus for just turning up at Bercy under an ATP rule designed to entice leading players to show up at top events, stepped up a gear in the final set as a demoralized Troicki collapsed and dropped serve three times.

VERY SMART

Djokovic, who will next take on sixth seed Tsonga after the Frenchman beat Italian Andreas Seppi 6-3 6-4, ended the one-hour-55-minute contest with a scorching service return.

Murray produced a dazzling display as he demolished former world number one Roddick in 61 minutes.

Briton Murray, who has never made it past the last eight in the Parisian indoor tournament, will next face the fifth-seeded Berdych, Paris Masters champion in 2005.

"But because I broke him earlier, I was able to dictate a lot of what happened out there. (I) played very well, very few hiccups; I played very smart."

Roddick, the 13th seed, looked helpless throughout as world number three Murray sent him scurrying left and right with his sharp forehand.

Roddick crushed his racket in frustration when he conceded his fourth break against a focused Murray, who gave up only 10 points on serve.

Fourth seed Ferrer also advanced with a clinical 6-3 6-2 defeat of Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov to set up a meeting with American John Isner, a 6-4 6-2 winner over Spaniard Feliciano Lopez.

(Editing by Ed Osmond)