Gilles Simon edged into the Madrid last eight after defeating Robby Ginepri 6-7 (6-8) 6-4 7-6 (8-6) on Thursday.
World No.16 Simon, winner of three titles this season, advanced into the quarter-finals in just over two-and-a-half hours against the American.
And with his latest win, the Frenchman passed Fernando Gonzalez into provisional 11th in the race to the eight-man Masters Cup in Shanghai.
With a fortnight remaining in the regular tour and four spots at the season-ending finale in China still open, Simon has eyes on a ticket to the Masters.
The victory was long on drama as Simon had to rally throughout, earning a break for 4-3 in the final set.
But Ginepri, a one-time Madrid semi-finalist, was far from done, saving a match point in the tenth game and breaking Simon as the Swiss-based 23-year-old ploughed a backhand long for 5-5.
The tight contest went to a tiebreaker, with Simon then saving two match-points thanks to a service winner and a forehand error from the world No.63.
Simon then earned his second match point and put away the victory with a stinging backhand down the line.
Simon fired a dozen aces, and 36 winners, converting on four of 14 break chances. Ginepri’s effort was riddled with 63 unforced errors.
Elliot Ball, Sky Sports
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