Paris - Jo-Wilfried Tsonga eliminated James Blake from the race to the year-end championships while insuring a spot for Argentine Juan Del Potro with a Saturday victory into the final of the Paris Masters. Australian Open finalist Tsonga became the first Frenchman since Sebastien Grosjean, the 2001 winner, to figure in a final at the Bercy arena as he defeated Blake 6-4, 6-3.
The result sends Tsonga into a Sunday title match against Argentine defending champion David Nalbandian, who advanced over Nikolay Davydenko 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 in two hours.
With Del Potro's ascension to the eight-man field for the Masters Cup in Shanghai starting next Sunday, only one spot remains open.
Already qualified: Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Davydenko, Andy Roddick and Del Potro.
Tsonga's hopes rest with a Sunday victory after spending 67 minutes to deny 2006 year-end finalist Blake, who lost his chance to China for the second straight season.
Tsonga lifted the first set in 31 minutes and began and ended the second with breaks of the American to reach his first Masters-level final.
Tsonga must beat Nalbandian to qualify, which would place him at number seven in the Shanghi field. If Tsonga is runner-up to Nalbandian, the Frenchman will finish at number nine in the race.
Tsonga will be playing his third final of the season after losing to Djokovic at the Australian Open and beating the Serb in Bangkok in September.
Nalbandian spent just over two hours in claiming a battle of champions as he stopped 2006 winner Davydenko at the Bercy arena.
"He's playing good, I'm playing good," said Nalbandian of his first-time meeting with Tsonga. "Whomever gets the best start will have a lot more chances.
"He's a good player, young, powerful. It will be tough, but I have to keep believing in my game."
Against Davydenko, Nalbandian improved his career record in the series to 6-4 after the Russian had won their last two meetings.
Nalbandian has gone on a tear indoors for the second straight season, after winning the Madrid and Paris Masters titles in 2007.
Last month, the Argentine who insists that will likely not bother to go to Shanghai even if he qualifies in order to devote his energies to the November, 21-23 Davis Cup final against Spain, lifted the Stockholm title.
Nalbandian lost in the Madrid third round to Del Potro but played last week's Basel final against Roger Federer.
He now stands 43-15 this season after winning his 14th indoor match.
Nalbandian won the first five games before Davydenko got untracked, making a contest of the semi-final which ended after he saved a match point but then returned long.
"For Shanghai, this week was good for me," said 2006 Bercy winner Davydenko. "I played with good confidence."
