Paris, November 1:

The Paris Masters was blown wide open when both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer pulled out of their quarter-finals with injuries.

Second seeded Federer was the first to go, announcing that he would not be able to play against James Blake. Top seed Nadal did see some action shortly afterwards but promptly withdrew with an injury to his right knee after dropping the first set 1-6 to Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko. It was a double body blow for the prestigious tournament, which has been hit by a rash of injury withdrawals in recent years.

In the day’s opening quarter-final, Andy Murray’s hopes of making tennis history by winning three consecutive Masters Series titles were wrecked by an outstanding David Nalbandian. The defending champion from Argentina won 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 producing the best tennis of the week as his love affair with Paris in the autumn continued.

The withdrawal improves Blake’s chances of reaching the Masters finals and he now goes on to play Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for a place in the final following the Frenchman’s 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) victory over American Andy Roddick.

Bell Challenge

QUEBEC CITY: Top-ranked Nadia Petrova of Russia closed in on her second title of the year when she beat Melinda Czink of Hungary 6-1, 6-4 in the Bell Challenge quarter-finals. In the semi-finals, Petrova will face American Angela Haynes. Fifth-seeded Aleksandra Wozniak will meet sixth-seeded American Bathanie Mattek in the other semi-final. Wozniak defeated Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakhstan 6-2, 6-2. Mattek beat Melanie Oudin 7-6 (7), 6-1, while Haynes ousted Nathalie Dechy of France 2-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3.