By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday November 2, 2023

 

In a battle that went down to the wire, Djokovic inched past Tallon Griekspoor in three tight sets.

Photo Source: TTV

Tallon's got talent, but Djokovic has experience, and a whole lot of grit. It wasn’t vintage Novak Djokovic that we saw on Thursday night in Bercy, but it was plenty good enough for a victory.

The World No.1, battling through a stomach issue this week in Paris, rallied from a set down to defeat talented Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 in a match that lasted two hours and 39 minutes and ended as the midnight hour approached in Paris.



Djokovic increases expands his lead over Carlos Alcaraz in the race to year-end No.1 and wins his 15th consecutive match as he reaches his ninth consecutive quarterfinal at the Paris Masters. The 24-time major champion has now won 29 of his last 30 matches – he will defending champion Holger Rune or Daniel Altmaier for a spot in the semifinals on Friday.

"I started off well but I ran out of steam,” Djokovic admitted after the match. “I've been struggling the last couple of days with my stomach and I just didn't feel myself at all. I was just trying to hold my serve and get to a tie-break, which happened in the second. I got lucky on a couple of shots there. It could have easily gone his way, but overall I played a good tie-break and I started to feel better in the third. I'm really, really glad to overcome this challenge."

Djokovic was living on the edge against the 23rd-ranked 27-year-old throughout. The Dutchman rallied from 4-1 down in the opener to take the final five games of the set, and even had break points for a set and a break lead at 4-4 in the second set.

In the final set Djokovic grabbed the first break but gave it back with a double-fault to end the seventh game.

Not to worry, the Serbian superstar broke at love in the next game, and finished the contest with a run of eight consecutive points.

The World No.1 held firm to complete his 7th comeback from a set down this season. He improves to 47-9 lifetime at Paris, and 48-5 on the season.

More to follow…