ZCZC
BSP-20
TENNIS-ATP-FRA
Djokovic hails ‘phenomenal achievement’, Federer three wins from 100th
title
PARIS, Nov 2, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Novak Djokovic described his return to the
world number one ranking as a “phenomenal achievement” on Thursday as he and
old rival Roger Federer coasted into the Paris Masters quarter-finals.
Four-time Paris champion Djokovic made the last-eight when Bosnian
opponent Damir Dzumhur retired injured trailing 6-1, 2-1.
Federer defeated Italy’s Fabio Fognini 6-4, 6-3 as the Swiss great moved
three wins away from his 100th career title.
Djokovic will replace Rafael Nadal as the world’s top player on Monday
after a two-year absence.
The 31-year-old’s elevation is remarkable as it comes just five months
after he slumped to 22 in the world — his lowest ranking for 12 years —
when he was knocked out of the French Open in the quarter-finals.
Since then, however, he has won Wimbledon and the US Open, taking his
Grand Slam tally to 14, winning 20 consecutive tour-level matches for the
sixth time, and 29 of his past 30 encounters.
“Reflecting on what I’ve been through in the last year, it’s quite a
phenomenal achievement,” said Djokovic who will face Marin Cilic for a spot
in the semi-finals.
“I’m very, very happy and proud about it. Five months ago, it was highly
improbable considering my ranking and the way I played and felt on the court.
“I’ll probably be able to speak more profoundly about it when the season
is done and hopefully if I get to finish as No. 1.”
Federer, 37, who captured his 99th trophy on home ground in Basel last
week, will next face Japan’s Kei Nishikori who beat South Africa’s Kevin
Anderson 6-4, 6-4.
Third seed Federer is playing the Paris Masters for the first time since
2015 and is bidding to clinch the tournament for just the second time after
winning it in 2011.
“I think both of us were far from our best, but we fought with what we had
and at the end I think I maybe served a bit better in the important moments
than Fabio did,” said Federer who was playing his first match of the week
after second round opponent Milos Raonic withdrew on Wednesday.
Nishikori, seeded 10, had lost to seventh-seeded Anderson in the Vienna
final on Sunday.
However, he has a 2-6 record against Federer with his most recent win over
the 20-time major champion coming in 2014.
Djokovic was guaranteed a return to the ranking summit when Nadal withdrew
from Paris with an abdominal injury on Wednesday.
– London places on line –
“It’s not the end of the season. Rafa obviously is struggling with
injuries since the US Open. But the race is still there,” added Djokovic
after extending his sequence of consecutive winning sets to 30, passing his
previous best mark of 29 from 2015.
“Roger is in the race. Rafa is in the race. It depends who is going to
play the ATP Finals in London. So as I said, I can’t be too ecstatic about
it.”
Cilic, the fifth seed, secured his quarter-final ticket with a 7-6 (7/5),
6-4 defeat of Grigor Dimitrov.
Cilic fired 29 winners to advance to the last eight for the third straight
year.
The win also improved the Croat’s prospects of making the ATP Finals in
London starting on November 11.
“I am very close to London, to securing my spot mathematically,” said
Cilic, who is part of the Croatia team facing France in the Davis Cup final
at the end of this month.
“In the next match against Novak it will be another big challenge. (It
will be) great to play him again.”
Cilic has beaten Djokovic just twice in 17 meetings.
Karen Khachanov saved two match points against John Isner on his way to
defeating the eighth-seeded American 6-4, 6-7 (9/11), 7-6 (10/8).
The Russian will next play Alexander Zverev after the German fourth seed
beat Diego Schwartzman of Argentina 6-4, 6-2.
Austrian sixth seed Dominic Thiem reached the quarter-finals in Paris for
the first time, seeing off in-form Borna Coric 6-7 (3/7), 6-2, 7-5.
Thiem, also in contention for the ATP Finals, next faces defending
champion Jack Sock of the United States.
BSS/AFP/BZC/1820HRS