Paris (AFP) - World number one Carlos Alcaraz swatted aside Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets on Thursday to reach the Paris Masters quarter-finals, while Lorenzo Musetti dumped out third seed Casper Ruud.
The Spanish teenager, hoping to win a third Masters title of the year after previous successes in Miami and Madrid, saw off former world number three Dimitrov 6-1, 6-3 in 72 minutes.
Alcaraz will be confirmed as the year-end world number one before the ATP Finals in Turin later this month if he lifts the trophy this weekend in the French capital.
"It was not his day, he didn't play at his best, but I played my game," said the 19-year-old US Open champion.
Alcaraz will take on Holger Rune for a last-four place after the Dane knocked out seventh seed Andrey Rublev with a 6-4, 7-5 win.
The top seed got off to a rapid start at Bercy Arena, taking nine of the first 10 games to seize total control of the match.
Dimitrov managed to break back in the second set, but Alcaraz broke again in the eighth game and comfortably wrapped up victory.
He hit 16 winners and made only six unforced errors in a dominant display, while Dimitrov saw 24 unforced errors fly off his racquet.
Italian youngster Musetti downed third seed Ruud in three sets to reach his maiden Masters quarter-final.
The 20-year-old, at a career-high ranking of 23rd, came from behind to beat the Norwegian Ruud 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Musetti will next face either reigning champion Novak Djokovic or Russian Karen Khachanov.
"He was playing really well and I had to play my best tennis to beat him," said Musetti.
"I am really happy that all the hard work I am doing keeps improving me.I am really proud of this win."
Ruud has struggled since losing the US Open final to Alcaraz -- having also been the French Open runner-up earlier this year -- winning just two of his last six matches.
The 23-year-old took the opening set with a single break in the 10th game but then had no answer as his opponent battled back.
Musetti, who has lifted two ATP titles this year, broke serve three times across the next two sets to continue his rise with his best performance to date at a Masters event.
Felix Auger-Aliassime extended his winning streak to 15 matches as the Canadian ended Gilles Simon's career with a 6-1, 6-3 success.
The eighth seed is still on track for a fourth successive title and will next play Frances Tiafoe after the American's 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) win over Alex de Minaur.
Auger-Aliassime and Rublev both qualified for the ATP Finals on Wednesday to complete the eight-man field.
Former world number six Simon had said he would retire after the tournament and the 37-year-old Frenchman bowed out of the sport after surprise wins over Andy Murray and Taylor Fritz earlier this week.
Djokovic faces Khachanov later on Thursday, with Stefanos Tsitsipas also in last-16 action.
