Djokovic Returns Strong, Medvedev And Alcaraz Stumble At Paris Masters

World number one, Novak Djokovic, made a commanding return to the court by defeating Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3, 6-2 in his first individual tournament since his US Open triumph in September.

Djokovic's victory has strengthened his position at the top of the rankings. He broke Etcheverry, ranked 31st in the world, in the eighth game of the first set and twice in the second set, securing his win in one hour and 24 minutes. Djokovic, a six-time Paris Masters champion, is now set to face Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor in the next round. Meanwhile, second-seed Carlos Alcaraz was ousted by qualifier Roman Safiullin, and third-seeded Daniil Medvedev experienced a Paris tantrum as he fell 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/2) to Grigor Dimitrov. Medvedev, who had a series of run-ins with Parisian fans in the past, threatened to stop playing in the second set due to crowd disturbances, but he later expressed his determination to win over the Parisian fans. Djokovic's strong performance came after he quickly returned from the US Open to help Serbia reach the Davis Cup quarter-finals and then spent quality time with his family. The victory in Paris demonstrates his resilience and readiness to compete at the highest level once again. While the Parisian crowd made their presence known with whistles and applause, Medvedev found it challenging to maintain his composure. He threw his racket in frustration when Dimitrov broke him to level the score at 5-5 in the second set, leading to further whistles from the crowd. Despite his outbursts, Medvedev managed to clinch the tie-break, but the incident highlighted his ongoing struggles with the Paris audience. Medvedev's performance in Paris reflects the unique challenges of playing in a city known for its passionate tennis fans, with his relationship with the crowd being a central theme throughout the tournament.