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Djokovic makes winning return in Paris doubles, targets year-end No.1 record
CGTN
Serbia's Filip Krajinovic (L) and Novak Djokovic head to to their doubles match at the Paris Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, November 1, 2021. /CFP

Serbia's Filip Krajinovic (L) and Novak Djokovic head to to their doubles match at the Paris Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, November 1, 2021. /CFP

Novak Djokovic, making his return to the court at the Paris Masters, seven weeks after losing the U.S. Open final, picked up a doubles win on Monday, on the eve of his singles debut.

Djokovic and Serbian compatriot Filip Krajinovic needed a super tie-break to beat Australians Alex de Minaur and Luke Saville 4-6, 6-4, 10/7, in front of a packed Bercy arena.

"I've never played in front of so many people for a doubles match, it's incredible," said the world number one, whose last doubles match was in Mallorca in June when he and Carlos Gomez-Herrera won their semifinal. They then withdrew from the final because the Spaniard had injured an ankle.

In his first singles match on Tuesday, Djokovic will face Hungarian Marton Fucsovics, who beat Italian Fabio Fognini 6-1, 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/5) on Monday.

Serbia's Filip Krajinovic (L) and Novak Djokovic celebrate victory in their men's doubles match at the Paris Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, November 1, 2021. /CFP

Serbia's Filip Krajinovic (L) and Novak Djokovic celebrate victory in their men's doubles match at the Paris Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, November 1, 2021. /CFP

Djokovic said his targets for the rest of 2021 include clinching the year-end number one spot and helping Serbia in their Davis Cup campaign.

Djokovic, who is tied with Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal on 20 major titles, has not played since coming up short in his bid for a calendar Grand Slam in September, losing in straight sets to Russian Daniil Medvedev at Flushing Meadows.

Djokovic and Medvedev are both in Paris for the Masters 1000 event in Bercy before they head to Turin for the ATP Finals between November 14 and 21. The year-end number one spot is based on results during the calendar season and Djokovic can seal it in Bercy where he is the top seed and a five-time champion.

"The year-end number one is on the line between Medvedev and myself, and I'm in a pretty good position in terms of the ranking points and the race, so that's obviously the goal for the end of the season other than trying to do well in the Davis Cup with the national team," Djokovic said.

(With input from agencies) 

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