CHAIRMAN: DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: PROF. KHALID MUBARAK AL-SHAFI

Sports / Tennis

Djokovic hopes to resume 2015 domination in Paris

Published: 02 Nov 2015 - 08:47 am | Last Updated: 02 Nov 2021 - 03:11 pm
Peninsula

Paris: Novak Djokovic carries a ten-match winning streak into the Paris Masters, that begins on Monday for the final event of the ATP season, with the world number one riding a wave of form which has lifted him to a record year.

The Serb has not lost at the Bercy Arena since going down to American Sam Querrey in the second round three years ago when he was also dealing with a family health crisis.

Since then, Djokovic has claimed the last two titles, beating Canadian Milos Raonic in the final a year ago and Spaniard David Ferrer in 2013.

With another undefeated autumn run in China now in the record books, there seems to be no limits to the confidence of the top man in the sport this season.

"I haven't lost a match, the last couple years during the indoor season," said Djokovic in the Paris run-up.

"I've played only Paris and London (year-end finals) for the last couple years. But still the perfect record that I have in these two tournaments allows me to believe that I can do well.

"I'm not thinking about being unbeaten till the rest of the year. But, yes, that's an option. It's a possibility. But I'll still try to keep the kind of a philosophy and approach where the next match matters."

All 16 seeds in the field receive first-round byes, with number two Scot Andy Murray playing for the first time since losing badly in the Shanghai semi-finals last month against Djokovic.

Murray is concentrating on Britain's historic Davis Cup final against Belgium, later in the month, as he worries about how to make the switch from indoor hardcourt to clay.

The British number one says he intends to play the World Tour Finals in London despite the fact he must switch surfaces within a week.

There were reports the 28-year-old would skip the eight-man season finale at London's O2 Arena from November 15-22 in order to adjust to the indoor clay surface set to be used in Ghent when Britain chase a first Davis Cup since 1936 from November 27-29. 

AFP