BEIJING, Nov. 5 -- Rafael Nadal was playing David Nalbandian in the Paris Masters final last night as Richard Gasquet clinched the last place for the season-ending Masters Cup despite losing his semifinal match on Saturday.

Second-seeded Nadal beat Marcos Baghdatis 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 on Saturday and Nalbandian defeated 10th-seeded Gasquet 6-2, 6-4.

But Gasquet already had enough points for the November 11-18 event in Shanghai before stepping onto the court because Baghdatis had lost.

Nalbandian is going for a second straight Masters title after winning in Madrid last month, where he dominated Nadal 6-1, 6-2 in the quarterfinals.

The Argentine doesn't expect it to be as easy this time.

"I think here is a little different than Madrid," Nalbandian said. "It's a little slow, and it's maybe a little bit better for him."

Nadal, who reached his first final since July 22, said his form has improved since that loss.

"My expectations were only to play well, so I didn't think about (reaching) the final," Nadal said. "I said before the tournament that I just wanted to play good because my goal was to finish the season with good feelings. Today I started playing very good."

Nadal, appearing at the US$2.45-million indoor event for the first time, is trying to become the second player to win the Paris Masters and the French Open, after Andre Agassi.

Gasquet accepted he was "a level under" Nalbandian. "I'm not sure I played a player as good as he is. Even when I played (Roger) Federer six times I never felt that way."

Gasquet has now earned enough points to reach the Masters Cup because Baghdatis can no longer catch him. Playing a match despite knowing he had already qualified felt odd, the Frenchman said.

All eight spots have now been filled. Gasquet will join Federer, Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Nikolay Davydenko, Andy Roddick, David Ferrer and Fernando Gonzalez in Shanghai. "It has been a real achievement," Gasquet said. "I never thought two weeks ago that I could make it. Qualifying for the Masters is incredible for me."

(Source: Shanghai Daily/Agencies)