Shanghai: Andy Murray became the fourth player to qualify for next month's season-ending championships as he defeated Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters yesterday.
Fellow qualifier Novak Djokovic continued his red-hot form in China, the two-time Beijing champion hammering Richard Gasquet 6-1, 6-1 to leave France winless from two matches on another rainy day.
Murray joined Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Djokovic in making up half of the field for the elite eight-man ATP season wrapup from November 21 in London.
"It's a great achievement," the Scot said of his entry into the year-end field. "I'm obviously very happy to have done it with a few tournaments left. Today was a good match. I'm happy with how I played."
Djokovic beat Gasquet for the third time in four meetings, taking less than an hour for a 51st victory this season.
Unforced errors
Murray advanced in 80 minutes over No 59 Chardy, setting up three match points with his ninth ace of a match played under the closed roof at the Qi Zhong centre as more rain plagued the outdoor event.
Murray saved the five break points he faced from the Frenchman whom he has now defeated in all three of their meetings.
The fourth-seeded Scot produced 21 winners and 14 unforced errors as he worked to lift his game after last week's quarter-final disappointment in Beijing. Robin Soderling, Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych, David Ferrer and injured Andy Roddick are the next four in the queue for London qualification.
But results over this week and the next four through to the end of the regular season will decide the final line-up for the World Tour Finals.
