Djokovic Keeps Winning Streaks Alive WIth Khachanov Win In Paris

Novak Djokovic avenged his 2018 championship match defeat to Karen Khachanov in style on Thursday at the Rolex Paris Masters, where the Serbian delivered a commanding performance for a 6-4, 6-1 third-round victory.

With the win, Djokovic extended his winning streak in tour-level matches to 11. It was also an 11th straight victory for the Serbian at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Paris, where he has not lost since he fell to Khachanov in the 2018 final.

“Khachanov is someone I know really well,” said Djokovic after the match. “We train [together] a lot, and we played almost 10 times against each other on different surfaces… He beat me four years ago in the final, so I know he likes this surface, he likes these conditions.

“The first [set] was quite even, I had my chances, he had a break, and he was hanging on and I broke his serve in the 10th game of the first set and I think after that the momentum shifted. In the second set I was a different player. I think I stepped it up even more, served better, and I’m just really pleased with the way I finished.”

Just an artist and his canvas 🎨@DjokerNole #RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/i0pXbco6wY

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 3, 2022

The sixth-seeded Djokovic appeared in a confident mood after his opening win against Maxime Cressy but he was initially pegged back by Khachanov, who recovered an early 0-3 deficit to draw level in the opening set. The World No. 19 had little joy against the free-flowing Djokovic from that point on, however, as the Serbian converted four of eight break points and struck 17 winners to wrap an 87-minute win.

In quintessential Djokovic fashion, the Serbian’s defence proved decisive for nullifying Khachanov’s powerful groundstrokes. According to Tennis Data Innovation’s INSIGHTS Steal Scores for the match, the 90-time tour-level finalist found a way to win 50 per cent of points when he was defending, well above the ATP Tour average of 34 per cent.

_{^{Novak Djokovic Vs. Karen Khachanov: INSIGHTS Steal Score}}

Djokovic’s 11-match winning streak has included title runs in Tel Aviv and Astana, and the Serbian will seek to maintain his good European indoor hard-court form as he chases a record-extending seventh title in Paris and a record-equalling sixth crown at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin in two weeks’ time.

A title run in the French capital would also earn the 35-year-old a record-extending 39th Masters 1000 crown overall. His quarter-final opponent in Paris will be Lorenzo Musetti, who upset third seed Casper Ruud 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 earlier on Thursday.

"He’s definitely a much-improved player on [hard courts],” said Djokovic of Musetti, who clinched his maiden tour-level trophy on the surface in October in Naples. “He has had some big wins this week, his first title a few weeks ago on [hard courts].

"He’s so talented, he’s got everything in his game. He can play in the court, he can defend well, he’s got great movement, but I know his game well and I’m looking forward to a good challenge.”