Paris Masters: Six-time champion Djokovic fends off Cressy to reach last 16

Six-time champion Novak Djokovic began his title quest with a 7-6 (1), 6-4 victory over American Maxime Cressy to reach the last 16 of the Paris Masters at the Accor Arena on Tuesday evening.

Djokovic, ranked No 7, will face the winner of the match between Russian Karen Khachanov and Swiss qualifier Marc-Andrea Huesler next.

Djokovic didn’t have things all his own way, with Cressy rushing him using his now familiar serve-volley game, which included 15 aces.

But once the Serb had taken the first set, he grew in confidence and was a confident winner as he began what he hopes is a strong end to an interrupted season.

“It was my first time against Cressy today,” he said. “And I had never played a man hitting such second serves. It was almost easier to return the first serve than the second. But it’s nice to see serve and volley again, it’s like a flashback.”

Djokovic: “I’ve found my game again”

Djokovic missed the Australian Open and US Open because of his refusal to take the Covid-19 vaccine but won Wimbledon and still has a chance to climb higher in the rankings with good performances in Paris and then in Turin, where he qualifies for the ATP Finals as a slam winner this year.

“It was a special season, but these latest four, five months, I found my game again, and positive emotions on the court,” the 35-year-old said. “And as I am still young, I can play several years more.”

In the previous round, Cressy, ranked No 34, beat Argentinian Diego Schwartzman (6-3, 6-3).

Paris Masters 1000, other second-round results (Accor Arena, EUR 5.415.410, most recent results first):

• Corentin Moutet vs. Cameron Norrie
• Tommy Paul vs. Rafael Nadal
• Taylor Fritz vs. Gilles Simon
• Carlos Alcaraz vs. Yoshihito Nishioka
• Mikael Ymer vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime
• Daniil Medvedev vs. Alex De Minaur
• Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Daniel Evans
• Lorenzo Musetti vs. Nikoloz Basilashvili
• Jack Draper vs. Frances Tiafoe
• Karen Khachanov vs. Marc-Andrea Huesler
• Richard Gasquet vs. Casper Ruud
• Andrey Rublev (7) beat John Isner: 6-2, 6-3