Joao Sousa to meet Novak Djokovic, Frances Tiafoe sets up Alexander Zverev clash
Joao Sousa and Frances Tiafoe won their opening matches at the Paris Masters to set up second-round encounters against Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev respectively.
Qualifier Sousa upset French Open semi-finalist Marco Cecchinato 7-5, 6-3 to book a clash with four-time Paris Masters champion Djokovic.
Joao Sousa books a meeting with four-time #RolexParisMasters champ Novak Djokovic in the second round.
Tops Cecchinato 7-5 6-3 to move on in Paris. pic.twitter.com/F7xcXlORAR
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 29, 2018
American Tiafoe, meanwhile, saw off the challenge of Nicolas Mahut, winning 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 to earn himself a date against fourth seed Zverev.
Sealed with class 👏@FTiafoe moves past French qualifier Mahut 7-6(1) 6-2. Meets Sascha Zverev next…#RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/9yx6fH3cbP
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 29, 2018
Fellow NextGen star Karen Khachanov also moved into the second round as he beat Filip Krajinovic of Serbia 7-5, 6-2.
The Russian was due to meet Kyle Edmund, but the British No 1 withdrew due to injury and he will face Australian lucky loser Matthew Ebden instead.
Canadian Denis Shapovalov fell at the first hurdle as he went down against Richard Gasquet with the veteran Frenchman winning 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) to send up a meeting with defending champion Jack Sock.
“[Shapovalov] is hitting the ball very hard. So it’s very tough to play against him. So I needed to play very offensive, especially my return on his second serve was important for me. So I tried to push a lot and to keep my serve,” Gasquet told ATPWorldTour.com.
Other players to advance include Damir Dzumhur, Philipp Kohlschreiber and Feliciano Lopez.
More from Tennis365:
Paris Masters betting preview: Novak Djokovic will be tough to beat
Marcus Buckland talks to Tennis365 as he offers insight into the real Andy Murray
Quiz! Test your knowledge on the history of the Paris Masters
Juan Martin del Potro, the comeback king of tennis, not giving up on ATP Finals
Five talking points ahead of ATP Finals: Big Three’s return, Rafael Nadal’s barren run and more
Latest
-
NewsMore Australian Open players go into isolation taking number up to 72
Forty-seven had already been told they had to stay in their rooms for 14 days.
-
NewsHow Australian Open players are keeping themselves occupied in quarantine
A total of 47 players were told they would have to stay in their rooms for 14 days.
-
NewsAustralian Open preparations rocked by fourth positive Covid case
A positive test was returned by a broadcast team member on a charter flight from Los Angeles.
-
NewsPlayers were made aware of isolation risks on arrival to Australia – Craig Tiley
Forty seven players will have to remain in their hotel rooms for 14 days.
-
Australian OpenAndy Murray’s waiting game as anger mounts after tennis players fly in for Australian Open
Andy Murray is waiting to see if there is any way he compete in the Australian Open after testing positive for Covid-19.
-
NewsPositive Covid cases on flights to Australia put 47 players in 14-day quarantine
Three people across two chartered flights carrying the Open hopefuls tested positive for coronavirus upon their arrival in Melbourne.
-
Tennis NewsBernard Tomic still has drive to compete, saying ‘I don’t need to play tennis again, I’ve got enough money’
“I’m risking my life, and I’m playing and competing.”
-
Tennis NewsDominic Thiem: ‘My wish for 2021 is to win a second Grand Slam title’
Dominic Thiem eyes a second Grand Slam trophy.
-
Australian OpenVIDEO and PICS: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams among tennis stars to arrive in Australia
This way for a video and pics of arrivals in Australia.
-
Australian OpenOfficial insists no special Australian Open treatment for Andy Murray after positive COVID-19 result
Andy Murray warned he won’t get preferential treatment.