After taking a couple of weeks off the court, world no. 1 Novak Djokovic is back in action. Novak met Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the Paris Masters second round, scoring a 6-3, 6-2 victory in an hour and 24 minutes. Djokovic was pleased with his performance, having moments of lost concentration but playing well overall.
The Serb served well, losing 14 points in nine service games and defending the only break chance offered to his opponent. Novak secured three breaks, enough to control the pace and sail over the top. Djokovic fired 21 winners and 14 unforced errors, breaking the rival's resistance in the mid-range rallies between five and eight strokes.
Novak kicked off the action with a backhand down the line winner at the net in the first game. Tomas Martin fought well early, leveling the score at 3-3 when Novak sprayed a forehand error in game six.
Novak Djokovic is off to a winning start at the Paris Masters.
Djokovic produced another fine hold with a forehand winner in game seven and raised his level on the return in the next one.
The Serb created a break point in game eight with a backhand winner. He wasted it but converted the second after Etcheverry's loose forehand, moving 5-3 up and serving for the set. Novak closed the set with an ace, taking it 6-3 after 42 minutes.
Djokovic broke Etcheverry at the start of the second set and faced a break point in game two. The Serb denied it with a forehand crosscourt winner and held with a booming serve for 2-0. Tomas Martin faced four break points at 1-3, netting a backhand on the last and propelling Novak 4-1 ahead.
Djokovic held at 15 in game six to move 5-1 in front and served for the triumph at 5-2. World no. 1 converted his third match point when his rival sprayed a backhand error, safely moving into the last 16. "I'm pleased. I played well in the important points, hitting an extra shot and making Tomas Martin uncomfortable.
I changed the court's position and did not give him the same look. It allowed me to grab a break in the first set. I was serving up and down, with some excellent parts and others, when I lost the rhythm. It's normal to be rusty a bit after not playing an official match for so long. Still, it's a straight-sets win against a guy who has been improving so much," Novak Djokovic said.