Alcaraz Injured, Djokovic Sharp At Paris Masters; Auger-Aliassime Streak At 16

Novak Djokovic moved closer to a 7th Paris Masters indoors title with a dominant 6-0, 6-3 win over Lorenzo Musetti.

After racing through the first set, the young Italian got his foot in the door and actually led with an early break 2-1 in the second. But the Serb was able to break right back and cruise to his 12th straight overall match win.

“No one is unbeatable, but I’ve had plenty of success on this court and I think every single year that I come back, the confidence level is higher,” said Djokovic. “I just like the conditions, even though they are different from last year. I think I adjusted very well. Right from the start I was really playing my best tennis in the first match and I continued doing that. Hopefully I will not derail myself and will keep going in the same direction.”

Djokovic will now take on Stefanos Tsitsipas tomorrow in the semifinals. The Greek got past Tommy Paul 6-2, 6-4 to set up a showdown with Novak. But Djokovic has won 10 of 12 and their last seven meetings.

“I need to show the same consistency,” Tsitsipas said. “I have weapons that I can use. But in the past I feel I have used too much spin or power. It’s important that I stay at a medium level and not overdo it. It will be a physical match and I will need to move well.”

Felix Auger-Aliassime remains the hottest player in the sport. The Canadian upped his career best win streak to 16 dispatching Frances Tiafoe 6-1, 6-4.

“I feel better and better,” said Auger-Aliassime. “I heard Novak saying yesterday that you can always improve and he’s won how many Grand Slams, so I can definitely improve a lot more in future. Of course right now I’m playing well and feeling good, but I see things that I can still do better and still improve on to be able to top the game.”

Auger-Aliassime will now meet Holger Rune who got a retirement from Carlos Alcaraz with the Dane ahead 6-3 and 3-1 in the second set breaker. Alcaraz retired with a stomach muscle issue.

“I thought it was a great match. Unlucky for him,” Rune said. “I think we both played very well and I was super focused. It was an amazing crowd, amazing tennis, so I’m super pleased with how I handled everything today.”

Said Alcaraz, “At the end of the set, it was wrong… It was getting wrong and I preferred to retire and see it, and take care.

The injury comes with the ATP Finals looming, and it could prevent the teen from competing.

“I have some tests on how it’s going to be before Turin. But right now I’m focused to try to get better in the abdominal and trying to be at 100% in Turin.”

Rune has now won 17 of his last 19.

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