Novak Djokovic, a semis in Paris

Medvedev, Zverev and Hurkacz, in the top four

Serbian Novak Djokovic, the first seed and leader of the world rankings, beat American Taylor Fritz 6-4 and 6-3 yesterday to advance to the semifinals of the Paris Masters, and remains on course to extend the record with a sixth title in the tournament.

Djokovic is also aiming to set a mark with a 37th. title of a Masters. He is tied at 36 with the Spanish Rafael Nadal, who has lifted 20 Grand Slam trophies, the same as the Serbian tennis player and the Swiss Roger Federer.

In the round of the best four, Djokovic will face the seventh seed of the tournament Hubert Hurkacz. The Pole beat Australia’s James Duckworth 6-2, 6-7 (4) and 7-5 to secure the last ticket to the season-ending ATP Finals.

Djokovic has won all five meetings he has had against Fritz, including three this year. The Serbian went to the front 2-0 but Fritz broke his serve in the next game.

This tournament marks the return of Djokovic, who had not played since September, when he fell in straight sets to Daniil Medvedev in the US Open final.

“I felt perfectly fine, considering that this was only the second game back on tour after an absence of almost two months of not playing a competitive match,” said the Balkan star, benefiting in the third round, after the Frenchman. Gael Monfils withdrew from their match due to injury. “I have to be very satisfied to move forward in these instances, but there are also some things that need to be improved for the next commitments and I know it.”

The Serbian is 2-0 against Hurkacz, who was excited to get his pass to the ATP Finals, which begin on November 14 in the Italian city of Turin.

Hurkacz advanced to the Wimbledon semi-finals this year, beating Swiss and 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer in the quarter-final stage. Last month, he made the world Top 10 for the first time in his career.

Djokovic could meet Medvedev again in a final tomorrow.

The defending champion of the Paris Masters was saved from three set points at 5-4 and 0-40 during the first quarter, before beating 7-6 (7) and 6-4 to French Hugo Gaston, a tennis player from the phase qualifying.

The second-seeded Russian will play fourth seed Alexander Zverev, whom he defeated in the final last year. The German had no problem passing over the Norwegian Casper Ruud (6th) 7-5 and 6-4 .— AP

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