Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas will be facing each other for the fourth time in their careers when they clash in the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Masters on Friday.
Tsitsipas holds a surprising 2-1 lead in the head-to-head series, having pulled off upsets in both 2018 and 2019; 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3 at the Toronto Masters and more recently via a 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 decision at the Shanghai Masters this fall. Djokovic’s victory came this spring in the Madrid final, where he triumphed 6-3, 6-4.
As those results suggest, Tsitsipas has no fear when the top players in the world are on the other side of the net. The sixth-ranked Greek owns one win over both Rafael Nadal (Madrid semifinals) and Roger Federer (Australian Open). He earned himself another shot at Djokovic by picking up straight-set victories in Paris over Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur. Thus continues an impressive resurgence on the heels of a summer slump for Tsitsipas, who finished runner-up in Beijing and reached semifinals in Shanghai and Basel.
Despite the loss to Tsitsipas, Djokovic’s Asian swing (title in Tokyo, quarterfinals in Shanghai) was encouraging given that he had not played since the U.S. Open due to a shoulder issue. Now the world No. 1 is attempting to overcome an illness, and he managed to scrape past Corentin Moutet 7-6(2), 6-4 in his Paris opener before looking much better during a 7-6(7), 6-1 defeat of Kyle Edmund on Thursday.
This should be competitive based on their past history and Tsitsipas’ current form, but Djokovic’s second set against Edmund sent a message that he is back in business and he surely feels comfortable in Paris as a four-time champion.
Pick: Djokovic in 3
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Joker ready to play…in 2.
Djoko is solid..he will take it 2:0
Embarrassing display of tennis by Tsitsipas the no. 6th ranked player in the world. There’s no variety in his game, no variety in the way he serves, it’s no wonder Djoko is making minced meat of him.
Djoko serves better, returns better, moving forward whenever possible controlling the court, hitting without missing, putting Tsitsipas on the back foot throughout the whole match.
Djoko is from another league, above Tsitsipas, several levels higher as shown in this match. He makes Tsitsipas looks so one dimensional, reducing Tsitsipas to simply chasing after balls, busy retrieving and defending.
Shapo seems more solid and consistent this tournament, playing better than the inconsistent Tsitsipas. Dimi too.
So Djoko gives Tsitsipas only three games, crushed him in 58 mins! Efficient tennis!