Roger Federer booked his place in the ATP World Tour Finals for a record-tying 12th consecutive year when he dismissed South African Kevin Anderson 6-4 6-4 to reach the third round of the Paris Masters on Wednesday.
The win meant former world number one Federer, who started the week seventh in the ATP Race to London, made sure of finishing in the top nine. That is enough to earn him a spot in the Finals as Wimbledon champion Andy Murray is out with a back problem.
Top seed Rafa Nadal also progressed to the third round in the French capital with a 7-5, 7-5 triumph over fellow Spaniard Marcel Granollers.
By qualifying for the event every year since 2002, Federer equalled Ivan Lendl's mark for the most successive appearances at the season-ending event.
"It's one of the highlights for all the players, all the top 10, top 20 talk about that from the beginning of the year or during the off-season," the Swiss told a news conference.
{{/usCountry}}"It's one of the highlights for all the players, all the top 10, top 20 talk about that from the beginning of the year or during the off-season," the Swiss told a news conference.
{{/usCountry}}"Being among the very best is very enjoyable. Also it's one of the tournaments where I haven't had the greatest success."
Two more places are still available for next week's showdown in London and Federer's compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka stayed on course to snatch one of them by beating Spain's Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.