Roger Federer has made a comfortable start to his quest for a 100th title, dispatching Fabio Fognini in straight sets to ease into the quarter-finals at the Paris Masters.
The 37-year-old Swiss had only made a late decision to compete in Bercy after winning his 99th title in his home town Basel on Sunday but, despite a touch of raggedness, was sharp enough on Thursday to outclass the Italian 6-4 6-3 in his opening match.
Federer's procession came after Novak Djokovic celebrated his return to the summit of world tennis with an even easier stroll into the last eight after Damir Dzumhur had to retire injured in the second set of their third-round clash.
Federer wasn't at his regal best against Fognini but he didn't need to be. "Not bad" was how the 20-time grand slam winner rated his display.
However, he knows it will be much harder in the last eight against Kei Nishikori, who beat Kevin Anderson.
In a repeat of Sunday's Vienna Open final, the in-form Japan's Nishikori gained impressive revenge for his defeat by beating the South African 6-4 6-4.
Djokovic, who knew on Wednesday he would be world No.1 next week after Rafael Nadal's withdrawal from the tournament through injury, was leading 6-1 2-1 when Bosnian Dzhumur was forced to retire due to a back problem with the Serbian leading 6-1 2-1.
Djokovic extended his winning streak to 20 straight matches as he maintained the remarkable form that helped him rise from No.22 in June to the top of the game again.
"Reflecting on what I've been through in the last year, it's quite a phenomenal achievement. And, of course, I'm very, very happy and proud about it," Djokovic told reporters.
Seeking a record-equalling 33rd Masters and record-extending fifth Paris title, Djokovic will face a much tougher test in the last eight against world No.7 Marin Cilic, who beat Grigor Dimitrov 7-6(5) 6-4.
Alexander Zverev eased into the quarter-finals with a 6-4 6-2 win over Diego Schwartzman and will play Russia's Karen Khachanov, who needed three sets to see off John Isner 6-4 6-7(9) 7-6(8).
Austrian Dominic Thiem had to come from behind to beat Borna Coric 6-7(3) 6-2 7-5 and his reward is a last-eight meeting with America's Jack Sock, a 6-0 6-4 winner over Malek Jaziri.
