Novak Djokovic begins Paris defence with comfortable win over Gilles Muller

ByEurosport

Updated 02/11/2016 at 22:26 GMT

Novak Djokovic began his Paris Masters defence with a 6-3 6-4 win over Gilles Muller as he bids to hold off Andy Murray's bid to become world number one.

The Serbian needs to reach the final of the event, a tournament he has won for the last three years, to ensure he will hold off Murray at least until the ATP World Tour Finals later this month.

Djokovic has struggled for form and motivation since completing his career Grand Slam at the French Open in June, when his lead in the rankings appeared unassailable.

He arrived in Paris after a two-week break without either of his coaches Boris Becker or Marian Vajda but declaring himself rejuvenated.

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After an impressive first set against Luxembourg's Muller, Djokovic was less impressive in the second but saved a break point in the fourth game and went on to win with some ease.

He is likely to face a stiffer test next against Grigor Dimitrov.

Japan's Kei Nishikori cruised into the third round with a 6-2 7-5 win against Serbian Viktor Troicki as the race for places at the ATP Tour Finals gathered pace on Wednesday.

The fifth seed, one of six players to have already qualified for the season-ending finals in London, breezed through the first set and quickly broke in the second.

A lapse in concentration by the Japanese, however, allowed world number 28 Troicki to break back but Nishikori broke again to end the contest in straight sets.

He will next face either local favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the 11th seed, or Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain.

Japan's Kei Nishikori returns the ball to Serbia's Viktor Troicki during their second round tennis match.

Image credit: Eurosport

Murray is in action later on Wednesday as well as world number three Stan Wawrinka who is closing proceedings on centre court.

Croatian Marin Cilic set up a third-round clash with Belgium's David Goffin as both battle for one of two remaining spots for the Nov. 13-20 ATP event at the 02.

Cilic, ninth in the Race to London, beat compatriot Ivo Karlovic 7-6(7) 6-2 while Goffin, who is 11th with an outside chance of qualifying, beat France's Nicolas Mahut 7-6(5) 6-3.

Dominic Thiem's chances of taking part in the London showdown, took a big blow when the Austrian, eighth in the Race, lost 6-2 6-4 to American Jack Sock in the second round in Paris.

Former world number one Rafa Nadal is seventh in the Race, but has ended his season and will not play in the Tour finals.

Additional reporting by Reuters.

Latest results from the Paris Masters second round

2-Andy Murray (Britain) beat Fernando Verdasco (Spain) 6-3 6-7(5) 7-5

John Isner (U.S.) beat 15-David Ferrer (Spain) 7-6(4) 7-6(4)

16-Pablo Cuevas (Uruguay) beat Paolo Lorenzi (Italy) 6-1 6-2

Gilles Simon (France) beat 10-Roberto Bautista (Spain) 2-6 6-1 7-6(6)

1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) beat Gilles Muller (Luxembourg) 6-3 6-4

11-Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) beat Albert Ramos (Spain) 6-3 6-4

Jack Sock (U.S.) beat 6-Dominic Thiem (Austria) 6-2 6-4

13-Lucas Pouille (France) beat Feliciano Lopez (Spain) 6-7(1) 6-3 6-4

9-Marin Cilic (Croatia) beat Ivo Karlovic (Croatia) 7-6(7) 6-2

8-David Goffin (Belgium) beat Nicolas Mahut (France) 7-6(5) 6-3

5-Kei Nishikori (Japan) beat Viktor Troicki (Serbia) 6-2 7-5

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