Shanghai, China, 12 October 2018 | AAP

Matt Ebden has a golden opportunity to become Australian No.1 after progressing to the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters.

Ebden won through to the last eight with a 6-2 6-3 win over Peter Gojowczyk on Thursday and can leapfrog Alex de Minaur as the top-ranked Aussie male player if he beats world No.19 Borna Coric on Friday.

The West Australian will rise to a career-high mark of No.40 when the rankings are released next week, but reaching the semifinals would catapult him up to 31 – the spot currently occupied by De Minaur.

Happy with a strong performance today, looking forward to tomorrow night @SH_RolexMasters #Shanghai #China #tennis https://t.co/etzlMOYLnU

— Matt Ebden (@mattebden) October 11, 2018

The 21-year-old Coric booked his quarterfinal spot after injury forced Juan Martin del Potro to retire from their third-round clash.

Argentine world No.4 del Potro called it quits due to a knee injury he sustained during an on-court tumble before the Croatian claimed the first set 7-5.

There was no Shanghai surprise for rising star De Minaur who was swiftly dispatched from the third round by German world No.5 Alexander Zverev, 6-1 6-4.

Zverev will face Britain’s Kyle Edmund after the 11th seed conquered Chile’s Nicolas Jarry 7-6(5) 6-3 to advance.

Meanwhile Roger Federer had a tough three-set 6-3 2-6 6-4 win over Roberto Bautista Agut.

Novak Djokovic also earned a revenge 6-4 6-0 win over Italy’s Marco Cecchinato to enter the quarterfinals.

The 14-time Grand Slam champion, who won the Wimbledon and US Open titles this year, had his run at the French Open stopped by Cecchinato in a shock quarterfinal defeat in June.

Kei Nishikori and Kevin Anderson also won through to the last eight.