Having only featured once – in Davis Cup play for Serbia – since clinching his 24th Major title at Flushing Meadows on September 10, world no. 1 Novak Djokovic began as he means to continue this week with a straight-sets win (6-3, 6-2) against Tomas Martin Etcheverry, after a whirlwind 24-hour period has seen two of the tournament’s top three seeds beaten elsewhere in the draw.
Etcheverry decent, but Djokovic extends win streak to 14
Djokovic [1] bt. Etcheverry 6-3, 6-2
- Djokovic recorded 21 winners in total, with nine coming on the forehand alone. There was a 14-point differential in total points won (58-44), as the Serb regularly held his nerve during their longer rallies as pressure told
- Armed with a 122km/h average forehand speed, Djokovic served three double-faults – two in one game late on – but Etcheverry was made to work behind the baseline and couldn’t attack freely as he would’ve liked
- A third H2H meeting with Tallon Griekspoor awaits him next in the third-round, after the Dutchman dropped just four games against Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (6-2, 6-2). Novak leads it 2-0
After enjoying a variety of off-court activities recently, from celebrity all-star golf in Italy to Ballon d’Or festivities the night before his maiden match here, US Open champion Novak Djokovic continued where he left off in Davis Cup play as the Serbian seeks a record-extending seventh Paris Masters title later this week.
Having reached the final and narrowly fallen short against a bullish Holger Rune twelve months ago, the pair will face off in a tantalising rematch at the quarterfinal stage should both prevail in their respective third-round ties on Thursday.
Third-round ties
Djokovic [1] vs. Tallon Griekspoor
Daniel Altmaier vs. Rune [6]
Jannik Sinner [4] vs. Alex de Minaur [13]
Botic van de Zandschulp [Q] vs. Andrey Rublev [5]
Francisco Cerundolo vs. Hubert Hurkacz [11]
Alexander Bublik vs. Grigor Dimitrov
Stefanos Tsitsipas [7] vs. Alexander Zverev [10]
Karen Khachanov [16] vs. Roman Safiullin [Q]
Rune [6] won 6-4, 6-2 against qualifier and 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem, who recovered from a set – and later a match point – down to topple Stan Wawrinka in round one but has struggled against top opposition in recent seasons.
Etcheverry was no means poor and the match statistics justify that assessment, but Djokovic made him pay during their longer rallies utilising variety and excellent court coverage to keep him uncomfortable in ways few can replicate with consistency.
There were subtle sequences where Etcheverry was punished for hanging in a rally too long without being overly aggressive to try finishing points off, and equally Djokovic quick pouncing on opportunities to neutralise the Argentine’s threat.
The 24-year-old, who rallied from a set down to beat Djokovic’s compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic in round one, has steadily improved and seen his stock rise quickly over the past year or so – he’s not a French Open quarterfinalist by accident.
This time though, it was bad luck he’d been drawn against the tournament favourite… especially given the defending champion’s form struggles of late.
Grigor Dimitrov’s impressive late-season form continued after a gritty three-set win over 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-2) while in the section below, there was another surprising result for the second seed with Carlos Alcaraz losing a straight-sets scoreline to Russian qualifier Roman Safiullin (6-3, 6-4).
Picture source: Getty Images
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