Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis [ Images ] knocked out holder Nikolay Davydenko [ Images ] with an impressive 6-2, 6-2 win in the third round of the Paris Masters Series on Thursday.

Baghdatis offered a near faultless display to set up a quarter-final against Spain's Tommy Robredo [ Images ] or Argentine Guillermo Canas [ Images ] and keep alive his slender hopes of making the season-finale Masters Cup featuring the world's top eight.

Russia's [ Images ] Davydenko, seeded fourth in the $2.45 million indoor event, looked sluggish before bowing out with a backhand error at the end of a one-sided contest lasting just 73 minutes.