Djokovic Survives Scare To Battle Past Fucsovics In Paris

By Daily Sports on November 3, 2021

World No 1 Novak Djokovic endured a tough return to the ATP singles circuit but battled through to beat Marton Fucsovics of Hungary 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the second round of the Paris Masters on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old 20-time Grand Slam champion had said on Sunday his greatest fear was lack of match practice having not played since Daniil Medvedev dashed his dreams of a Grand Slam sweep in the US Open final in September.

The Serbian's fears were borne out as Fucsovics put up a sterner test than the 'rabbit caught in the headlights' one he had produced when they met in the Wimbledon quarterfinals earlier this year.

"It is my return to competition after almost two months of not playing in an official tournament," said Djokovic.

"Thus it was difficult to get into my rhythm but I am happy it is a decent win."

Djokovic – who rare for him is also playing the doubles in Paris – said he expected a tough match despite having beaten his opponent the three previous times they had met.

"It was a super battle," he said.

"Now I must play more to rediscover my level of intensity.

"The more matches I play the better I will play.

"I know this well as I have been in this situation before. Hopefully that experience will be useful."

Djokovic barely had to engage second gear when cruising to the first set in 38 minutes with the loss of just two games.

But Fucsovics broke early to go 3-1 up in the second, energising the evening crowd at Bercy.

Djokovic served to save the set to love at 5-3, but the Australian, French and Wimbledon champion was unable to prevent Fucsovics serving out to take the match to a decisive set.

Djokovic, though, pulled it together in the third set and broke his 29-year-old opponent to go 4-2 up.

Djokovic had a match point on Fucsovic's next service game as he turned the screw but the Hungarian saved it and stayed in the contest by winning the game to trail 3-5.

Djokovic, though, made no mistake when he served for the match to see off his 40th-ranked opponent and progess to the third round.

He will play the winner of the all-French clash between Adrian Mannarino and mercurial Gael Monfils.

Earlier another seed had had a tough time of it as well.

Felix Auger-Aliassime set up a second round clash with Domink Koepfer, conqueror of Andy Murray, after coming from a set down to beat Italian qualifier Gianluca Mager 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.

The 21-year-old Canadian ninth seed needed five match points to do so against a dogged opponent, who played way above his world ranking of 66.

Auger-Aliassime will need to be on his mettle when he faces Koepfer who saved seven match points against world No 1 Murray on Monday before sealing victory with his first.

"The end of the first set was disappointing but I reacted well," said Auger-Aliassime.

"I bounced back in the second set.

"After returning so well, I created occasions and I won the second set and then I finished very well.

"So the match was indeed with an upward phase which was positive for me."

Auger-Aliassime has been very much also on an upward phase including reaching the US Open semifinals although aided by his quarterfinal opponent Carlos Alcaraz retiring from the match with a thigh injury.

The 18-year-old Spaniard, though, has recovered and showed real toughness in overcoming Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/2), 7-5 in a thrilling see-saw encounter which lasted seven minutes shy of three hours.

Herbert, fired up by a partisan crowd, had saved two match points but then limply handed victory to Alcaraz with his 10th double fault of the match.

Alcaraz will face the in-form Italian eighth seed Jannik Sinner in the second round in what promises to be a cracking encounter of two of the up and coming young talents. (AFP)

•PHOTO: Djokovic

Source Daily Sports

Posted November 3, 2021


 

You may also like...
Casillas Gets Porto Coaching Role

Klopp Content Despite Lack of Liverpool Signing

Neymar Gets Support After Admiting Mental Health Struggle...

“I would have committed suicide”- Wenger

Iheanacho will play when needed – Peseiro

Immobile Penalty Miss As Lazio Fall At Bologna...

 

Latest News CAF awards: Ajibade, Nnadozie, Edo Queens bag nominations Lagos SWAN, PAACC Hold SWAN Day At Golfview Hotels, Ikeja Crisis looms as Eagles’ form raises AFCON, W’Cup concerns Ex-Nigerian Super Falcons player handcuffed, children assaulted as police storm Anambra Football Academy Sports NFF, teammates console Nwabali on father’s death Abia Govt hails Nigeria Olympic Committee over staging an admin course in Umuahia Libya deliver Eagles 2025 AFCON ticket Eagles battle Cheetahs for 2025 AFCON ticket Yellow Greens gear up for T20 W’Cup qualifiers Tyson tips Fury to beat Joshua Sadiq absent as 22 Eagles train in Abidjan Eagles’ striking trio hot for Cheetahs, Amavubi clashes

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,163 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,307 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,370 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,015 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (43,948 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (43,904 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,742 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,311 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,366 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,054 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,506 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (38,931 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media