E-Paper
Murray joins Djokovic in Paris Masters third round
Novak Djokovic began the defence of his ATP Paris Masters title with a 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Juan Monaco here on Wednesday, while Andy Murray battled back from a set down to beat David Nalbandian.
Novak Djokovic began the defence of his ATP Paris Masters title with a 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Juan Monaco here on Wednesday, while Andy Murray battled back from a set down to beat David Nalbandian.
Second seed Djokovic, defending the title he won against Gael Monfils last year, will face either big-serving American 16th seed John Isner or France's Michael Llodra in the third round.
Djokovic, who received a first-round bye, found himself a break down early on, but fought back to level and then broke to love in the 10th game to take the first set, converting set point with a strong backhand return.
Nalbandian has a fine record at the Bercy arena, having won the event in 2007 and lost in the final in 2008, before missing last year's tournament following hip surgery, but he blinked first in the deciding set.
Murray needed treatment on a wrist injury at 2-2 but he took a 5-3 lead when the Argentine sent a forehand long and then calmly served out for a hard-earned 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory.
Murray's next opponent will be Croatian 13th seed Marin Cilic, who came through 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 against Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky.
Eighth seed Andy Roddick swept into the third round with a comprehensive 6-1, 6-4 defeat of Finland's Jarkko Nieminen.
Roddick will now face Latvian Ernests Gulbis.
Top seed Federer takes on home favourite Richard Gasquet in the evening session, with Gasquet's fellow Frenchman Gilles Simon also in action against Swedish fourth seed Robin Soderling.
