PARIS: Tomas Berdych guaranteed his place at the season-ending World Tour finals for the fifth straight year on Friday as he defeated South African Kevin Anderson to reach the semifinals of the Paris Masters.

The Czech No. 1, who won the Bercy tournament on his debut in 2005, his only Masters win to date, came through a tight contest 6-7, (4/7), 6-4, 6-4 in just under three hours.

He will now play either world No.2 Roger Federer or Canadian Milos Raonic for a place in Sunday’s final.

It was the 12th victory for Berdych over Anderson in 12 meetings.

“We’ve had some very close matches and some five-setters but I think the statistics do not tell the real story,” he said.

“It’s always tough against Kevin and today we played nearly three hours but I think it was a great match.

“I’m so happy and feel lucky to have made it through so now it’s another semifinal and it’s been a great tournament for me so far,” added the Czech who had a 15 and 4 record in Slams this season, getting to the Australian Open semifinals as well as the last eight at the French and US Opens.

“I hope I can keep it going and keep playing good tennis,” he added.

Berdych, who also reached the semifinals of the Miami Masters where he withdrew with a stomach bug before facing Rafael Nadal, is chasing an 11th ATP title and third this year after victories at Rotterdam and Stockholm.

Raonic, who is the only player who can break into the top eight in the Race to London, needs to defeat Federer and go on to win the tournament to guarantee his spot in the British capital.

The players now qualified are Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka, Marin Cilic, Andy Murray and Berdych with David Ferrer and Kei Nishikori holding the last two spots and trying to hold off Raonic.

Following the Federer v Raonic clash, British No.1Murray is next on court against world No.1 and defending champion Djokovic before Spanish fourth seed Ferrer tackles sixth seed Nishikori in the last quarterfinal match-up.

Second seed Roger Federer dismissed French qualifier Lucas Pouille 6-4, 6-4 and now faces Milos Raonic, who can still qualify for the Tour Finals after the Canadian fired 23 aces in his 7-5 7-6(7) win over Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut.

Federer, who has won five of his 10 finals this year, extended his current winning run to 14 matches as he kept his eye firmnly on the world No.1 spot, which he can achieved by winning in Paris if Djokovic does not reach the final.

However, third seed Stan Wawrinka was knocked out in the third round when he lost 6-7(2) 7-5 7-6(3) against South African Kevin Anderson, suffering his fourth defeat in five matches.

The Swiss, who has already booked a place in the Tour Finals, had lost his opening matches in the three previous tournaments he had entered.

A solid performance in the second round in Paris against Austrian Dominic Thiem was followed by an erratic display against the 14th seeded Anderson, who served 18 aces.