By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday November 4, 2022
Novak Djokovic made light work of rising Italian Lorenzo Musetti to reach the last four in Paris.
Photo Source: TTV
Novak Djokovic may not currently hold the ATP’s No.1 ranking, but he is certainly playing like the tour’s best player at the moment.
Displaying some of his most dominant tennis of the season, Djokovic danced past Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti on Friday, leaving no doubt about his ruthless form as he notched a 6-0, 6-3 triumph to improve to 36-6 lifetime in Paris as he reached his 74th semifinal at the Masters 1000 level.
The 21-time major champion has now won 12 straight matches in 2022, a streak that includes title runs in Tel Aviv and Astana, and he has also won 12 on the trot at the Paris Masters, having won titles in Bercy in his last two appearances, in 2019 and 2021.
Djokovic, bidding for his seventh title at the Paris Masters, will face either Stefanos Tsitsipas or Tommy Paul on Saturday.
The seventh-ranked Serb was fast out of the gates, and quick to seal the deal as 20-year-old Musetti struggled to mount any type of attack against the 21-time Grand Slam champion.
He claimed the first seven games before enduring a minor blip that saw Musetti get on the board and even break for 2-1 in the second set, but the Italian’s rally was short lived.
Djokovic broke back for 2-2, converting his fourth break point of the game, then broke again for 4-2 to all but break the will of the World No.23.
Musetti held for 5-3, but Djokovic served out his triumph at love, finishing festivities in one hour and 14 minutes.
Djokovic hit 17 winners against 10 unforced errors; Musetti hit 8 winners and 14 unforced errors.
Djokovic made it look easy on Friday, dropping just three first-serve points and only nine points on serve in total as he improved to 36-6 on the season and 1025-205 for his career.
The Serb has dropped just 18 games in his three rounds in Paris.