Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Gustavo Kuerten, both hoping to be number one at the end of the year, won in straight sets yesterday to reach the third round of the $2.95 million Masters Series in Paris.
Kafelnikov stayed on target for his dream when he beat Swedish qualifier Magnus Gustafsson 7-6 (7-5) 6-4, rallying from 1-4 down in the second set to take his place in the last 16.
The Russian is aiming to win his final three tournaments of the year to end 2000 as the world's top-ranked player.
The fourth seed is in good form after victories in Sydney and the Kremlin Cup in Moscow and could end up on top of the rankings if he were to win here, in Stockholm next week and at the Masters Cup in Lisbon.
French Open champion Kuerten, the top seed, advanced to the third round with a 6-3 7-6 (7-0) win over American qualifier Chris Woodruff. He came from 2-5 down in the second set.
Spaniard Albert Costa earlier sent ninth-seeded Briton Tim Henman tumbling out of the second round, winning 6-4 6-4 to end Henman's hopes of qualifying for the Masters Cup.
Costa's play was aggressive and he grabbed the only break of the first set in the seventh game. Further breaks in the first and fifth games of the second set put the Spanish baseliner firmly in control.
Greg Rusedski also crashed out, beaten 7-6 (7/5) 7-5 by Frenchman Arnaud Clement.
Meanwhile, defending champion Andre Agassi, who suffered an injury to his right hip during last week's tournament in Lyon, withdrew from the Paris event yesterday.
