Google News WATCH: Novak Djokovic beats Tallon Griekspoor in Paris-Bercy, the highlights
by LORENZO CIOTTI
Novak Djokovic qualified for the quarterfinals of the ATP Masters 1000 in Paris-Bercy, beating Tallon Griekspoor not without some problems. In the first set, Djokovic immediately took the lead by putting pressure on Griekspoor in response.
The Dutchman tried to force a forehand on the break point but his shot did not cross the net. Ahead 4-1, the Serbian suddenly lowered his performance and started misjudging more than one ball. Griekspoor took advantage of this by scoring the counter break in the seventh game, being ready for the drop shot attempted by Djokovic.
The games in a row collected by Griekspoor became five and ended the set at 4-4. Djokovic committed an unusual length error with his backhand. During the break between one set and another, the Serbian had a brief conversation with the physiotherapist for an unidentified problem but which influenced him for a good part of the dispute.
WATCH: Novak Djokovic beats Tallon Griekspoor in Paris, the highlights
Griekspoor wasted the chance offered to him by Djokovic at the start by calibrating his response badly, but did well to come back from 0-40 in the second game.
Three convincing firsts allowed the 36-year-old to still stay in the match at 4-4 and recover from 15-40. In a season that has often seen him enchant his opponents in tie-breaks, Djokovic left only two points on the way and grabbed an unexpected third set.
The Dutch took refuge in the advantages at 1-1. He failed to do the same in the next innings. Djokovic tried to respond on the court with more continuity and Griekspoor couldn't hold up with his forehand. The Serbian hesitated again and allowed his rival to equalize, complicating his life with a painful double fault.
At 4-4, however, Djokovic challenged the crowd and literally took the decisive break to zero. The Serbian champion reached the quarterfinals in Paris-Bercy for the ninth consecutive time, the eleventh in his career since his debut in 2005.
In 2023, the Belgrade native has reached the quarterfinals in ten out of eleven tournaments. Only Lorenzo Musetti stopped him before the finish line in question in Monte-Carlo.