Novak Djokovic impresses on return as he beats Tomas Martin Etcheverry in straight sets at Paris Masters

ByJames Walker-Roberts

Updated 01/11/2023 at 23:45 GMT

Novak Djokovic hadn't played for nearly two months before returning at this week's Paris Masters, but he didn't look like he had been away at all as he beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry in straight sets. The world No. 1 looked in good form as he eased through his first contest at the last Masters event of the season. Djokovic will meet world No. 23 Tallon Griekspoor in the last 16.

Novak Djokovic made an impressive return to tennis as he beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry in straight sets in the second round of the Paris Masters.

World No. 1 Djokovic was playing on the ATP Tour for the first time since winning his 24th Grand Slam title at the US Open in early September.

There were few signs of rustiness as he swept past the world No. 31.

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Djokovic faced just one break point all match and broke serve three times to secure a 6-3 6-2 win.

He will next play Tallon Griekspoor and could meet Holger Rune in the quarter-finals in a rematch of last year’s final, which Djokovic lost.

World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz and world No. 3 Daniil Medvedev are both out after shock defeats.

Alcaraz’s early exit means Djokovic can close on an eighth year-end No. 1 finish by winning in Paris, where he is a six-time champion.

Djokovic preceded his return to the court by watching the Rugby World Cup final and .

But his focus is now on a strong finish to the season at the Paris Masters, Nitto ATP Finals and Davis Cup Finals with Serbia.

He looked in good touch from the start against Etcheverry, winning a lengthy rally with a chip down the line.

He broke for the first time in the eighth game and then wrapped up the set.

A break to start the second set put Djokovic further in control, and in the next game he fended off the only break point he faced on his serve.

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Another break to make it 4-1 put Djokovic in sight of victory and he soon closed it out.

Djokovic finished with 21 winners and 10 unforced errors, winning 81 per cent of first-serve points.

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Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3 7-6(4) to improve his chances of making the Nitto ATP Finals.

Tsitsipas is currently in sixth spot in the Race to Turin standings, with an 810-point lead over ninth-placed Hubert Hurkacz.

Tsitsipas saved six of seven break points against Auger-Aliassime and came from 5-2 down in the second set, saving four set points.

After playing a forehand wide, Auger-Aliassime was broken at the second opportunity for Tsitsipas to move 3-1 ahead.

With only 30 minutes played, the world No. 6 had already progressed into a 5-2 lead, claiming a hold to love and leaving the Canadian serving to prolong the set.

Auger-Aliassime was able to dictate the pace of the game from the back of the court with a rally in the 10th game, but was still prone to some long returns.

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He had a third break point of the match when Tsitsipas hit the net, but the Greek would take the first set with a ferocious forehand.

A delightful backhand from Auger-Aliassime brought a break point in the second game of the following set, which he utilised when Tsitsipas missed a forehand.

The Canadian regained his confidence this time and successfully defended that break with a convincing hold to 15, following a powerful first serve.

After staving off a break point, the Canadian secured another hold, this time with an ace to go 4-1 in front.

The Canadian almost got the job done in the eighth game, but failed to take advantage of three set points on the Tsitsipas serve.

Auger-Aliassime had another set point on his own serve in the next game but couldn’t take it and was broken.

The set went to a tie-breaker and it was Tsitsipas who came out on top.

Tsitsipas will next play 10th seed Alexander Zverev, who beat home favourite Ugo Humbert in a marathon match.

Zverev, who is seventh in the Race to Turin standings, came from 2-4 down in the third set to win 6-4 6-7(3) 7-6(5) in three hours and 29 minutes.

Casper Ruud saw his chances of reaching the ATP Finals ended by defeat to Francisco Cerundolo.

Cerundolo won 7-5 6-4 against Ruud, who was runner-up in Turin last year, to reach the last 16, where he will face Hubert Hurkacz.

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