Rune downs Rublev to set up Alcaraz clash in Paris Masters quarter-finals

Dane Holger Rune continued his stunning year as he beat Russian Andrey Rublev, the No 7 seed, 6-4, 7-5 at the Accor Arena in the second round of the Paris Masters on Thursday afternoon.

Rune, ranked No 18, who won his second ATP Tour title recently in Stockholm, will now play world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals.

Rune and Alcaraz have met just once on the Tour, with the Spaniard winning at the Next Gen Finals last year.

Ahead of his victory, the 19-year-old Dane edged out Swiss Stan Wawrinka (4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3)) and won against Pole Hubert Hurkacz, the No 10 seed (7-5, 6-1).

Rublev, ranked No 9, won against American John Isner (6-2, 6-3) in the previous round.

Paris Masters 1000, other last 16 results (Accor Arena, EUR 5.415.410, most recent results first):

• Pablo Carreno Busta vs. Tommy Paul
• Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Corentin Moutet
• Novak Djokovic vs. Karen Khachanov
• Gilles Simon vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime: thursday
• Carlos Alcaraz beat Grigor Dimitrov: 6-1, 6-3
• Frances Tiafoe (16) beat Alex De Minaur: 6-3, 7-6 (5)
• Lorenzo Musetti beat Casper Ruud (3): 4-6, 6-4, 6-4