Paris (AFP) - Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan downed US fourth seed Taylor Fritz 7-6 (⁷⁄₅), 6-2 on Thursday to book his spot in the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters.

Lying in wait for the 13th seed in the next round will be world number six Alex de Minaur after the Australian beat Karen Khachanov in straight sets.

The maverick Bublik has been in fine fettle in Paris this week and came from behind in the first-set tie-break to seal the opener against the world number four Fritz.

Bublik broke the American to move 4-2 ahead in the second set, before again pouncing on Fritz’s serve and sealing victory with a forehand winner.

Despite arguably being in the form of his life in the latter half of 2025, Bublik said it would require a “miracle” for him to win a career-first Masters title in Paris.

“Tennis is very brutal that way, if you have results you’re playing your best tennis, if you’re not, you’re down,” the 28-year-old said.

“I have three matches to go, I have to beat the top ten players, maybe Jannik (Sinner) in the final, so that sounds a bit like a miracle.

“But you never know what’s going to happen… it’s just focus on the next match and show a good performance.”

Bublik’s opponent on Friday, De Minaur, eased past Russian 10th seed Khachanov 6-2, 6-2, and in the process cemented his place at next month’s ATP Finals in Turin.

- ‘Big goal’ -

American fifth seed Ben Shelton beat Russia’s Andrey Rublev 7-6 (⁸⁄₆), 6-3 in the third round and will next face either Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo or former world number one Sinner in the last eight.

The victory marked another landmark moment for the 23-year-old this season – following on from his first 1000-level title, won in Toronto this summer – as he will make his debut appearance at the season-ending ATP Finals.

“It’s an accumulation of a year’s work, a lot of ups-and-downs, great results, poor results and having to bounce back,” Shelton said of reaching Turin.

“For me to be able to be in the Finals was a big goal at the beginning of the year.”

Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime booked his place in the quarter-finals as he came from behind for the third time in as many matches in Paris to beat German Daniel Altmaier 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

The ninth seed is one spot outside the last ATP Finals berth, which is currently occupied by Lorenzo Musetti, who lost Wednesday to fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego.

That result coupled with an Auger-Aliassime charge to the title-decider in Paris would send the 25-year-old above Musetti in the race to the eight-man showpiece in Turin.

However, before he can think too much about that, Auger-Aliassime must stop the in-form Valentin Vacherot of Monaco.

The Shanghai Masters champion continued his sensational run by ousting Carlos Alcaraz’s British vanquisher Cameron Norrie in straight sets in the opening match on centre court.

Later, Italian four-time Grand Slam winner Sinner will seek to keep alive his hopes of reclaiming the world number one ranking when he takes on Cerundolo in the night session.