Djokovic Advances In Paris Title Defense Opener, Streak At 18; Federer, Nadal, Murray In Action Wednesday

by Staff | November 3rd, 2015, 6:23 pm
  • 44 Comments

Novak Djokovic opened his Paris title defense with a tough 7-5, 6-3 win over Brazilian lefty Thomaz Bellucci.

“Bellucci is someone who likes these particular conditions, likes to create spin, especially from forehand side and plays pretty well,” said Djokovic. “It wasn’t easy to make a lot of winners. He was reaching out and covering the court well. So it was a good test, first indoor match for me.”

Djokovic’s win extended his recent wins streak to 18 including 24 straight sets. And this week he’s to become the first player in Masters history (since 1990) to win six Masters titles in a singles season. This was also his first indoor match in almost a year!


“The last match I played indoors was last year in London,” Djokovic added. “So that’s why it’s always tricky to start out well. I mean, I had a few things that I could have done better tonight. But again, all in all, it was a very solid match. I played against a player who was on form and who is playing well and gave me a hard time. It’s always good to have a test like this.”

The Serb will faces Gilles Simon on Thursday in the third round.

Elsewhere, French Open champion Stan Wawrinka was a winner over Bernard Tomic 6-3, 7-6. Wawrinka is trying to become the only active player to win both the French and the Indoors in the same season.

“Whatever happens, the season will be very good,” Wawrinka said. “It was an exceptional season for me, that’s clear, whatever happens now. As to assessing the whole year, the year is not over yet. There’s here and the Masters. I want to have very good results. I want to try to get something. I would like to finish this year well.”

David Ferrer also won over Alexandr Dolgopolov to reach the third round.

First round winners included Edouard Roger Vasselin handing Ivo Karlovic his 10th loss in a final set breaker in as many tries this year, Viktor Troicki over Jack Sock, Roberto Bautista Agut beat Pierre-Hugues Herbert, Jeremy Chardy ousted Lucas Pouille and Borna Coric got past Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 6-4.

Coric will face Andy Murray tomorrow in the second round.

On a very busy Wednesday, Rafael Nadal and Lukas Rosol will collide once again.

“I played well last week,” Nadal said. “I finished the tournament feeling good. I’m just happy about the last three weeks playing two finals and one semifinal. Both matches that I lost were in three sets. I’m competing well against very good players. I’m happy about the way that I am practicing. It’s important for me to compete well and last week I competed well again.”

Kei Nishikori faces Chardy in a rematch of the Frenchman’s stunning US Open win, Grigor Dimitrov duels Marin Cilic and Roger Federer meets Andreas Seppi.

“It’s always a tournament that I really enjoyed winning a few years ago,” 2008 champ Federer said of the event. “But I have been 10 times in the final in Basel, so it always affects my preparation when I come into this tournament in Paris. So I do the best I can. That’s why the first rounds are always tough for me in this tournament.”

French stars Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet are also on court.

WEDNESDAY PARIS SCHEDULE
COURT CENTRAL start 10:30 am
[6] K. Nishikori (JPN) vs J. Chardy (FRA)
L. Mayer (ARG) vs [10] R. Gasquet (FRA)
B. Coric (CRO) vs [2] A. Murray (GBR)
[Q] L. Rosol (CZE) vs [7] R. Nadal (ESP)

Not Before 7:30 pm
A. Seppi (ITA) vs [3] R. Federer (SUI)

Not Before 8:30 pm
[9] J. Tsonga (FRA) vs R. Bautista Agut (ESP)

COURT 1 start 10:30 am
[16] D. Goffin (BEL) vs [Q] D. Lajovic (SRB)
G. Dimitrov (BUL) vs [12] M. Cilic (CRO)
[13] J. Isner (USA) vs [Q] A. Bedene (GBR)
[Q] E. Roger-Vasselin (FRA) vs [5] T. Berdych (CZE)
V. Troicki (SRB) vs [15] F. Lopez (ESP)
[11] K. Anderson (RSA) vs D. Thiem (AUT)


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44 Comments for Djokovic Advances In Paris Title Defense Opener, Streak At 18; Federer, Nadal, Murray In Action Wednesday

AndyMira Says:

Don’t know whether rafa can reach even quarterfinal..he’s exhausted already not only physically but mentally also and to face Rosol in his first match!are you kidding me?He’s barely survived him last week..rafa’s draw is a nightmare,even if he survive wawa..his journey will end at semis where he will meet the djoker..but i think truthfully he don’t mind very much if he lost at any stage since he already considered this last couple of tournament as a warm up event for a better season next year..vamos rafa!


elina Says:

Rigged draw.

Everybody loves a conflict.


Wog Boy Says:

I don’t think Rafa is tired, why did he play doubles if that is the case?
This court is little bit slower with higher bounce compare to Basel, Rafa will be fine and I can see him making SF with no much trouble, he’ll start by smacking Rosol’s back side, you’ll see.


Wog Boy Says:

“…and to face Rosol in his first match!are you kidding me?”

Are you kidding me, Rosol is #66 in the world, There is no too many lower ranked player in master’s format apart of WCs.
Nole played Bellucci, Andy plays Coric, Roger plays Seppi and they are all higher ranked players (and more dangerous) than Rosol.


elina Says:

Agreed WB.

If Nadal can’t get past Rosol, he has no business being in the tournament to begin with under these circumstances.


AndyMira Says:

To Wog Boy,it’s so soothing and comforting to read your comment..besides i’m one of rafa fan also..and i didn’t say that he will lose to Rosol..i just said that Rosol will give him trouble and maybe like Basel he will steal 1 set from rafa..and he got a huge serve also..the match in Basel is very close and that will give him much confidence to spar again with rafa..by the way he play doubles because he want to sharpen his game a little bit more..he still make ridiculous unnecessary unforced error everywhere..he still can’t rely on his forehand when needed most.


jalep Says:

Rosol took Rafa by surprise, once. That won’t happen again.

There’s no guarantees for any match. But I feel pretty secure about Rafa getting past Rosol.

The only match on Wed. schedule that I’d be tempted to put money on is Murray v Coric. My guess is Andy will be focused. Though Federer will lose 1000 points this coming Monday, Andy still needs #2 back — rather see Andy make a priority of Paris than WTF this year. It would be enough if Andy wins one RR match in London, then gets Outta Dodge.


jane Says:

any more feedback from the players on the new court and stadium?


danica Says:

Rafa said himself that he was mentally exhausted. He is physically fine. Although he barely moved past Rosol last week, Rafa will blow him off the court this time.

As for Nole, please edit this sentence in the 3rd paragraph: “And this week he’s to become the first player in Masters history (since 1990) to win six Masters titles in a singles season.” Thank you for being so certain but let the matches actually take place and a deserving winner crowned. Novak needs to earn the title just like everyone else.


Colin Says:

Fortunately Andy lost first round in the doubles, so he should be fit for the Coric match, and at least he’s had a bit of time on the court to get used to the surface.


Daniel Says:

I don’t know what is wrong with Paris TV transmission people but every year they compress the courr making it smaller in the TV screen. Hate it!! You lose sense of depth watching it. Why can’t they just do as everybody else do all year?


Giles Says:

This is Paris but not Chartrier.


J-Kath Says:

Jane

…saw this on another thread – Think “FedEx” posted it…

“The surface in paris just sucks. slower than roland garros. why did they do it? its indoor ffs.”


Daniel Says:

Murray cruising past Coric, hope we got to see another Fed x Murray and ser if Murray can challenge Federer again or it became a mental issue.
A lot of interesting matces today and tomorrow.
Dimi beat Cilic in straight which is a good victory for him. He can play Fed quarters id both reach that far.


J-Kath Says:

Yep – Andy did OK. If Andy has a mental issue it is more likely to be versus Nole….


jane Says:

Carole Bouchard ‏@carole_bouchard 15m15 minutes ago
6-2 Nadal vs Rosol. Really think that conditions of play this year in Paris could be good for Rafa. If the FH takes the vintage mode. #Spin

i guess that tweet backs up some of the comments about a slower surface and higher bounce in terms of the new paris surface?

thanks j-kath.


J-Kath Says:

U’re welcome Jane.

Hi Gypsy – That handsome Spaniard looks like he’s making Czech mincemeat…..


Daniel Says:

Usually Paris was pretty fast, but it seems a bit higher bounce.

By scores Nadal trashed Rosol.


Okiegal Says:

There is a little town north of Ada about 50 miles called Prague.It was settled by a group of Czechs….hence the name. They have a festival every year….It is called “The Kolache Festival. Very popular event and brings in a lot of people. The Czechs from that town are a lot nicer than Berdych and Rosol!! LOL


Margot Says:

@Daniel
The commentators were all saying how slow Paris is.
They seemed to think it would advantage Andy, if he and Fed should meet.


django Says:

Okie
what mean thing has berdych done?
Just wondering because there are a few people here who bring Czechs up.


jatin Says:

Fed is on fire right now. Rafa and andy won their matches comfortably and fed seems to follow them :)


Okiegal Says:

@django…..I hope I didn’t offend you with my comment. To explain my favorite is Rafa and he and Rafa had a slight altercation one time He put his finger up to his mouth and gave the crowd the shhh, hush gesture. The tourney was in Spain and Berdych beat Rafa that time and that’s why I’m not too fond of him or Rosol, they both beat him!! Lol Having said that, the Spanish crowd was definitely pro Rafa and and I’m sure very rowdy….so the crowd probably had it coming…tbh……


FedExpress Says:

fed dialed in GOAT mode


jatin Says:

Amazing rally to finish up the set.
6-1 roger in just 20 minutes. :)


jatin Says:

This is Federer’s masterclass
3-0 second set


jatin Says:

SABBBR…


FedExpress Says:

surely, fed is a future hall of famer


jatin Says:

Another one


jatin Says:

This is best I have seen roger play since his match against Stan in the USO
He is toying with seppi right now
5-0


jatin Says:

WOW, It was a 45 minutes masterclass.
Hope he could continue this play. Loving it.


Daniel Says:

Wow, Fed was in the zone today, 6-1 6-1 in 45 min, WTF.

Looks like Nadal victory made wonders to his confidence:-)

Actually all big 4 won convincingly, Djoko less so but something with Bellucci just revert him for winning easy.


FedExpress Says:

yeah jatin. but he cant sustain it the whole tournmaent or match


Daniel Says:

Yeah Margot, players are having more time and hitting the spots, Fed at least was putting the ball where he wanted to but he was also able to attack the net a few times.

But you know the court is slower by his ace count, just 4 but also only 7 services games with only one where he had to dig out of 0-40.


jatin Says:

FedExpress
We can atleast hope. Who is his next opponent ?


jatin Says:

Just checked it out. Its john isner.


skeezer Says:

“surely, fed is a future hall of fame”

He IS the Hall of Fame.


J-Kath Says:

John has booked his return fare to USA. He says: “Been there, not done that, but bought the T-shirt.”

Sorri – really, really like big John – but what was he thinking about beating Aljaz??? That’s no way to improve US-UK relationships…..nonetheless..

Good vibes to you John.


Okiegal Says:

I thought Rafa served better today……..


django Says:

Okie
No offense to me personally. Just like to find out reasons for posts. I don’t know all the tennis intricacies.
I hope you are doing okay and have all the support you need from family and friends.
Be well.


danica Says:

Django,
for me, what Berdych did in that match was nothing. I never understood why this is so often brought up by Rafa fans. What Mrs. Murray said about Berdych was way, way worse and somehow everyone forgot about it or thought how witty she was when she appeared in that t-shirt a day later. Rosol was just plain stupid when he kicked Rafa’s bottles and Stepanek pure ass when showing middle finger to Janko.

The one instance, however, that disappointed me the most was in a match Rafa – Soderling where the later showed that Rafa’s ball was supposedly out. Check this out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CnX6k0snxA


django Says:

Danita, agree on the bigoted comments by Kim Murray. Maybe Lendl got an anti -Czech vibe while coaching.


django Says:

Danica
That video is outrageous


Daniel Says:

Anderson with the DTL open hit right at Nadal, it would set MP on his serve. Now serving set point down

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