Paris Masters predictions: Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic to win to set up semi-final showdown

Alexander Zverev and defending Jack Sock also to prevail in Friday's quarter-finals

Tennis - ATP 1000 - Paris Masters - AccorHotels Arena, Paris, France - November 1, 2018  Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates winning his third round match after Bosnia and Herzegovina's Damir Dzumhur had to retire  REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
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We are at the quarter-final stages of the Paris Masters, with all four games due to be played on Friday in the French capital.

Here is a look at the match-ups and some predictions on who will make it through to the semi-finals.

Alexander Zverev (4) v Karen Khachanov 

From 5pm UAE time

Zverev has been untroubled so far in Paris, having not dropped a set on his way to the quarter-finals.

He is the highest ranked player in the top half of the draw and he should take a step closer to being the first German since Boris Becker in 1995 to reach the final in Paris.

Khachanov has had a good run, beating last year's runner-up Filip Krajinovic in the first round, and then winning an epic clash with John Isner on Thursday, but it ends for him here.

Prediction Zverev in straight sets

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Jack Sock (16) v Dominic Thiem (6)

Second match on Court Central

Sock was the surprise winner 12 months ago in Paris and he looks in good nick again, having beaten Richard Gasquet and Malek Jaziri so far.

Thiem had to dig deep to beat Borna Coric on Thursday after dropping the first set.

Sock beat Thiem in Paris two years ago and he is playing well enough to repeat that feat.

Prediction Sock prevails in three

Marin Cilic (5) v Novak Djokovic (2)

Not before 10.30pm UAE time

Marin Cilic ended Djokovic's title hopes two years ago in Paris with a straight sets win in the quarter-finals, but repeating that will be a tall order for the Croatian.

Djokovic, who will return to world No 1 on Monday, is on a 20-match winning run, and nine of those past 10 victories have been in straight sets.

Cilic will be his biggest test in Paris so far, but Djokovic's returning is so good right now that he will engineer plenty of break opportunities.

Prediction Djokovic in straight sets

Kei Nishikori (10) v Roger Federer (3)

Not before 11.30pm UAE time

Federer has not lifted the title in Paris since 2011, but he should have too much for Nishikori.

Nishikori impressed in beating Kevin Anderson on Thursday, but he has not beaten Federer in four years and was well beaten in Shanghai in October by the world No 3.

He may push Federer harder this time, but the result will be the same to leave Federer with a showdown with Djokovic on Saturday for a place in the final.

Prediction Federer in three sets

PARIS, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 01:  Roger Federer of Switzerland plays a backhand in his Round of 16 match against Fabio Fogging of Italy during Day 4 of the Rolex Paris Masters on November 1, 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Roger Federer faces Kei Nishikori in the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters. Getty Images