Novak Djokovic has safely made it into the last 16 of the Paris Masters as he chases a record-extending seventh title at the event. The defending Paris champion nullified serve-volleying talent Maxime Cressy in straight sets, defeating the French-American 7-6 (7-1), 6-4. Seeded sixth, Djokovic is back in action for the first time since claiming back-to-back titles in Tel Aviv and Astana in October.
In fact, the 21-time Slam champion has now won 17 ranking matches in a row since the French Open, with titles at Wimbledon and in Israel and Kazakhstan. His only loss in that time came to Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Laver Cup in September.
Moreover, Djokovic has now surpassed Roger Federer in terms of career Masters 1000 match wins. The Swiss great ended his career with 381 wins at Masters level. Djokovic now has 382 to his name.
The 38-time Masters title-winner still trails leader Rafael Nadal on the all-time list. The Spaniard enters Paris with 406 wins to his name at 1000 level.
Novak Djokovic awaits the winner of Karne Khachanov and Marc-Andrea Huesler in the next round for a place in the quarter-finals. The Serb has never played Huesller, but has faced Khachanov on eight previous occasions, winning seven.
However, the one match he lost to the Russian actually came at the Paris Masters. Khachanov defeated Djokovic 7-5, 6-4 in the final of the 2018 event to win his first and only Masters title to date.
