Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer will play each other for the first time this year after both won their quarter-final ties on Friday at the Paris Masters.
Djokovic swept into the semi-finals with a rapid-fire 6-1 6-4 win over Stanislas Wawrinka, while Federer came through a second set wobble to edge Juan Martin del Potro 6-3 4-6 6-3.
It will be the 30th meeting between the two, but the first since Djokovic defeated the Swiss great in the ATP World Tour final in London a year ago.
World No.1 Rafael Nadal stayed on course for a record sixth Masters Series title in a year as he dismissed the uncertain challenge of Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-4 6-1.
His semi-final opponent will be titleholder and fellow Spaniard David Ferrer who came from a set down to oust Czech Tomas Berdych 4-6 7-5 6-3.
Djokovic, 2009 Paris Masters champion, said Federer was having a strong finish to what had been a disappointing season.
"He's still a player to beat in every tournament, because he's Roger Federer, because he has won 17 grand slams, and we all know how successful a career he has.
"You cannot underestimate him ... I have been watching his matches in Basel last week and here. I think he's playing really well."
Fifth seed Federer had lost for the third straight time to the towering Argentine in the final of the his home Basel tournament on Sunday.
But with del Potro looking leg weary from marathon efforts in recent weeks, winning 15 of 16 matches, Federer was in commanding form from the start.
He broke serve to lead 3-1 and had little difficulty pocketing the first set in just 30 minutes.
The win was just the second this year for Federer against a top-10 player ranked and boosted his hopes of salvaging something from what has been a dismal 12 months.
"I knew it was a long time that I had been able to do that (beat a top-five player). Every time I played a top 10, I lost. But it was tight.
"So I'm happy now I won against a top 10 again, especially just before London where I will have to play against three top 10 players in a row."
Second seed Djokovic made the perfect start against Wawrinka with a break in the second game to lead 3-0 and wrapped up the first set 6-1 after just 26 minutes.
The Swiss seventh seed did have his chances early in the second set, but failed to put away any of four break points.
Wawrinka had already clinched a debut place in next week's season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London.
The Paris quarter-finals had a star-studded line-up featuring the eight men who will contest the London finals.
It was the first time since Montreal in 2009 that eight of the top 10 players in the world had reached the quarter-finals of a Masters tournament.
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