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World no. 1 Novak Djokovic kicked off his chase toward his seventh Paris Masters title with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Novak emerged at the top in an hour and 24 minutes, delivering his 395th Masters 1000 victory and moving closer to a massive milestone.
The Argentine challenged the Serb in the opening set in Rome this year, but he was far from that pace on an indoor court in Paris. Novak dominated on serve and return to sail over the top and extend the gap to Carlos Alcaraz in the year-end no.
1 battle. Djokovic lost 14 points in nine service games, fending off the only break point and delivering three return games to control the pace. Novak tamed his strokes nicely, hitting 21 winners and 14 unforced errors. Novak needed 42 minutes to grab the opener, serving well and delivering a single break to build the advantage.
Novak Djokovic defeated Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the Paris Masters second round.
Djokovic landed a backhand down the line winner at the net in the encounter's first game before Etcheverry held at love in game two for 1-1.
They served well in the next four games, with the Argentine leveling the score at 3-3 after deuce following the Serb's loose forehand. Novak painted a forehand winner in the seventh game for another fine hold, keeping the pressure on the other side.
Djokovic cracked a backhand down the line winner in the eighth game for a break chance, wasting it but seizing the second after Etcheverry's loose forehand. World no. 1 served for the set in game nine and closed it with an ace down the T line for 6-3.
With a boost on his side, the Serb took four straight points on the return at the beginning of the second set, delivering a break when the Argentine's forehand landed wide. Djokovic experienced a break point in the second game and denied it with a cracking forehand crosscourt winner.
Novak held with a service winner, cementing the break and moving closer to the finish line. Tomas Martin struggled behind the initial shot again at 1-3, failing to impose his strokes and offering Novak four break chances. Etcheverry netted a routine backhand on the last, falling 4-1 behind and pushing Djokovic closer to the finish line.
The Serb extended the gap with a hold at 15 in game six and served for the victory at 5-2. Djokovic seized the third match point, emerging at the top in style and moving into the last 16.