DEFENDING champion David Nalbandian of Argentina beat former champion Nikolay Davydenko 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 to reach the final of the Paris Masters yesterday.

The eighth-seeded Nalbandian is most likely to win one of the two berths for the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai.

James Blake and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who played their semifinal match later Saturday, are also in contention. Juan Martin del Potro, beaten by Nalbandian earlier in the tournament, is the other player hoping to qualify.