DJOKOVIC TRIUMPHS OVER ETCHEVERRY; MEDVEDEV'S NO. 1 BID FALTERS

Novak Djokovic stayed on track for the year-end No. 1 ranking for a record eighth time by beating Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3, 6-2 in the second round of the Paris Masters.

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Djokovic was competing in his first singles match since mid-September when he played for Serbia in the group stage of the Davis Cup.

“At the beginning of the match, it was a bit difficult for me to find the rhythm,” the top-seeded Djokovic said on court, “but at the end of the second set, it was really good.”

Djokovic won five straight games to take the opening set with an ace and lead 2-0 in the second set. The Serbian player only faced one break point that he saved with a forehand cross-court winner at 1-0 in the second set.