The sixth-seeded Robredo won the quarter-final on his fourth match point when Nieminen sent a routine forehand long.

The 14th-seeded Nieminen had Robredo 2-1 and 15-40 down on serve in the third set, but the Spaniard fought back and broke Nieminen in the next game.

Serving at 5-3 down, the Finn saved three match points as Robredo put a lob out, a passing shot wide, and a forehand into the net.

Robredo repeatedly used his drop shot to take advantage of his taller opponent's lack of mobility throughout the match, which lasted two hours 44 minutes.

The win moved Robredo above David Nalbandian of Argentina into sixth place in the ATP Race.

The top eight players will play in the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai, which begins Nov. 12. Robredo and Nalbandian of Argentina sealed their spots Thursday _ Nalbandian without playing.

Mario Ancic of Croatia and Tommy Haas of Germany were scheduled to play later Friday, with both having a chance of reaching Shanghai. Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic was to play Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia.

James Blake of the United States currently holds the eighth spot, but Ancic will overtake him if he beats fourth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko of Russia.

Haas was to play Marat Safin of Russia, who has not lost at the Paris Masters since 2001 and won the last of his three titles in 2004.