Novak Djokovic began his bid to hold on to his number one ranking with an easy win over Gilles Muller in the Paris Masters second round while Andy Murray struggled through and Stan Wawrinka faltered on Wednesday.
Serb Djokovic, who could be dethroned from the top spot by Wimbledon champion Murray this week, broke Luxembourger Muller once in each set to secure a drama-free 6-3 6-4 victory.
The 29-year-old will hold on to his ranking if he reaches the final in Paris.
"I try to focus on playing match after match and putting quality and value into my game. I know that if that's the case, then I can challenge anybody on the world in any surface, in any conditions," Djokovic told a news conference.
It went less smoothly for Murray, who overcame a blip to down Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 6-3 6-7(5) 7-5 before U.S. Open champion Wawrinka was knocked out by German qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff 3-6 6-7(6) 7-6(1).
A long season eventually took its toll on the world number three from Switzerland, who started brightly but ran out of gas after being forced into a second-set tiebreak.
Struff broke in the seventh game of the third set but Wawrinka broke back to send the match into a decisive tiebreak, which the German easily won.
Murray strolled through the opening set but lost his focus in the second, netting a backhand to allow Verdasco to level the match.
The Scot, however, recovered quickly, breaking to open a 2-0 lead in the decider, only for his opponent, who relied on his heavy forehand and a sliced backhand, to break back and set up two break points at 5-5.
Murray saved both and ended the contest on his first match point in the following game.
THIEM EXIT
Japan's Kei Nishikori cruised into the third round with a 6-2 7-5 win over Serbian Viktor Troicki as the race for places at the ATP Tour Finals gathered pace.
The fifth seed, one of six players to have already qualified for the season-ending finals in London, breezed through the first set and quickly broke in the second.
A lapse in concentration by the Japanese, however, allowed world number 28 Troicki to break back but Nishikori broke again to end the contest in straight sets.
He will next face either local favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the 11th seed, or Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain.
Croatian Marin Cilic set up a third-round clash with Belgium's David Goffin as both battle for one of two remaining spots for the Nov. 13-20 ATP event at the 02.
Cilic, ninth in the Race to London, beat compatriot Ivo Karlovic 7-6(7) 6-2 while Goffin, who is 11th with an outside chance of qualifying, beat France's Nicolas Mahut 7-6(5) 6-3.
Dominic Thiem's chances of taking part in the London showdown, took a big blow when the Austrian, eighth in the Race, lost 6-2 6-4 to American Jack Sock in the second round.
Former world number one Rafa Nadal is seventh in the Race but has ended his season and will not play in the Tour finals.
Reuters
Thu Nov 03 2016
![Djokovic cruises, Murray struggles, Wawrinka out in Paris Djokovic cruises, Murray struggles, Wawrinka out in Paris](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-10/41476450983_NovakDjokovic.jpg)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after winning against Mischa Zverev of Germany in their men's singles match at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament on October 14, 2016. - AFP PHOTO / File
![Kerajaan lihat semula perjanjian penjualan air kepada Singapura - Fadillah Kerajaan lihat semula perjanjian penjualan air kepada Singapura - Fadillah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720085306_FadillahYusof.jpg)
Kerajaan lihat semula perjanjian penjualan air kepada Singapura - Fadillah
Fadillah berkata perkara itu sudah berlaku ketika zaman pentadbiran bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad lagi.
![Pelancong asing ditahan disyaki cabul pekerja spa di Pulau Perhentian Pelancong asing ditahan disyaki cabul pekerja spa di Pulau Perhentian](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-07/51658407048_Cabul.jpg)
Pelancong asing ditahan disyaki cabul pekerja spa di Pulau Perhentian
Polis menahan seorang pelancong lelaki warga Maghribi kerana disyaki mencabul seorang juruterapi wanita rakyat tempatan di Pulau Perhentian.
Warga Thailand seludup diesel dihadapkan mahkamah
Seorang pemandu lori warga Thailand dihadapkan ke mahkamah atas menyeleweng 322 liter minyak diesel minggu lalu.
ADUN Rembia sertai Pas: YB Kampar minta buka riben putih
Susulan pengumuman ADUN Rembia sertai Pas dalam sidang media, YB Kampar, Chong Zhemin kemuka Peraturan Mesyuarat dan menyifatkan satu penghinaan besar buat Parlimen.
#SisiTVParlimen
#AWANInews
#SisiTVParlimen
#AWANInews
![Malaysia, Brunei dalam proses rundingan muktamad sempadan darat negara - Mohamad Malaysia, Brunei dalam proses rundingan muktamad sempadan darat negara - Mohamad](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720590984_DatukSeriMohamadH.jpg)
Malaysia, Brunei dalam proses rundingan muktamad sempadan darat negara - Mohamad
Mohamad Hasan berkata buat masa ini, kerja-kerja penandaan dan pengukuran di lapangan telah meliputi 175.96 km atau 33.3 peratus daripada keseluruhan jarak sempadan.
Kim Pan Gon undur diri kesan kepada Harimau Malaya
Apa reaksi peminat Harimau Malaya dan penganalisis sukan mengenai peletakan jawatan Kim Pan-Gon?
Masuk Pas untuk sama-sama susah dengan rakyat - ADUN Rembia
Muhamad Jailani berkata, sebelum ini beliau pernah menghantar surat kepada Lembaga Disiplin UMNO memohon untuk memecat keahliannya daripada parti Melayu itu.
![Perang berlarutan antara punca kelewatan penghantaran Black Hawk Perang berlarutan antara punca kelewatan penghantaran Black Hawk](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/51712121864_TBADLYZAHARIjp.jpg)
Perang berlarutan antara punca kelewatan penghantaran Black Hawk
Perkara itu dimaklumkan pihak Aerotree Defence and Services Sdn Bhd iaitu syarikat yang dipertanggungjawabkan dalam kontrak perolehan perkhidmatan sewaan helikopter berkenaan.
Keghairahan final Euro 2024 dibawakan ke restoran mamak
Kemeriahan dan keghairahan perlawanan final UEFA EURO 2024 antara Sepanyol dengan England di Berlin, Jerman dirasai di Malaysia, dibawakan oleh 'Astro BizOne Watch Party' di Restoran Hakim, Seksyen 7, Shah Alam.
![Polis kesan remaja lelaki hilang sejak enam hari lepas Polis kesan remaja lelaki hilang sejak enam hari lepas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721115027_MuhammadAdiLagik.jpg)
Polis kesan remaja lelaki hilang sejak enam hari lepas
Polis sedang berusaha mengesan seorang remaja lelaki yang dilaporkan hilang oleh keluarganya di Kuala Pilah sejak enam hari lepas.
![Terbuka Miami: Andy Murray lanjut tempoh rehat susulan kecederaan buku lali Terbuka Miami: Andy Murray lanjut tempoh rehat susulan kecederaan buku lali](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/51711419457_TBMiamiOpenTenni.jpg)
Terbuka Miami: Andy Murray lanjut tempoh rehat susulan kecederaan buku lali
Murray rebah ke lantai selepas cedera di pergelangan kakinya ketika berlari ke arah jaring untuk mendapatkan pukulan.
![Masters Paris: Andy Murray akui sudah tidak seronok main tenis Masters Paris: Andy Murray akui sudah tidak seronok main tenis](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2019-01/81547521505_AndyMurray.jpg)
Masters Paris: Andy Murray akui sudah tidak seronok main tenis
Andy Murray mengakui sudah tidak lagi seronok dengan permainannya selepas tewas dalam pusingan pertama Tenis Masters Paris.
![Tenis Terbuka AS: Murray lakar kemenangan ke-200 saingan Grand Slam Tenis Terbuka AS: Murray lakar kemenangan ke-200 saingan Grand Slam](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2017-02/41486698518_AndyMurray.jpg)
Tenis Terbuka AS: Murray lakar kemenangan ke-200 saingan Grand Slam
Andy Murray memenangi perlawanan grand slam yang ke-200 dengan kemenangan tiga set ke atas wakil Perancis, Corentin Moutet, di Terbuka AS.
![Tenis Winbledon: Novak Djokovic atasi Stan Wawrinka, lolos ke pusingan keempat Tenis Winbledon: Novak Djokovic atasi Stan Wawrinka, lolos ke pusingan keempat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-07/81688802820_TBNovakDjokovic.jpg)
Tenis Winbledon: Novak Djokovic atasi Stan Wawrinka, lolos ke pusingan keempat
Novak Djokovic menewaskan Stan Wawrinka dalam saingan Wimbledon untuk menempah tempat ke pusingan keempat.
![Tenis Wimbledon: Perintah berkurung, kecederaan nyaris jejas peluang Andy Murray Tenis Wimbledon: Perintah berkurung, kecederaan nyaris jejas peluang Andy Murray](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-07/81688704172_AndyMurray.jpg)
Tenis Wimbledon: Perintah berkurung, kecederaan nyaris jejas peluang Andy Murray
Murray cuba menjelmakan prestasi jitu menerusi ketabahan, kemahiran dan kawalannya di atas gelanggang rumput apabila mendahului permainan.
![Masters Monte Carlo: Wawrinka bangkit raih kemenangan, Murray terkandas Masters Monte Carlo: Wawrinka bangkit raih kemenangan, Murray terkandas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-04/71681173330_MonteCarloMasters.jpg)
Masters Monte Carlo: Wawrinka bangkit raih kemenangan, Murray terkandas
Kedua-dua pemain itu, yang merupakan pemenang tiga gelaran grand slam, melalui nasib berbeza dalam kejohanan berkenaan.
![Terbuka Perancis: Murray sahkan tidak ambil bahagian Terbuka Perancis: Murray sahkan tidak ambil bahagian](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-01/61642383404_TBAndyMurrayTennnis.jpg)
Terbuka Perancis: Murray sahkan tidak ambil bahagian
Murray mengalami masalah yang teruk dengan kecederaan dalam beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini.
![Terbuka Vienna: Atasi Hurkacz, Murray mara ke pusingan kedua Terbuka Vienna: Atasi Hurkacz, Murray mara ke pusingan kedua](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-10/71635218132_AtasiHurkacz.jpg)
Terbuka Vienna: Atasi Hurkacz, Murray mara ke pusingan kedua
Murray meraih kemenangan yang mengambil masa dua jam dan 40 minit dalam pertembungan tiga set.
![Pasti bagus jika lebih ramai pemain ambil vaksin, kata Andy Murray Pasti bagus jika lebih ramai pemain ambil vaksin, kata Andy Murray](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-10/81633945742_MURRAY.jpg)
Pasti bagus jika lebih ramai pemain ambil vaksin, kata Andy Murray
Andy Murray menggesa lebih ramai pemain tenis mengambil vaksin koronavirus menjelang Kejohanan Terbuka Australia tahun depan.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-08/71627839251_BAP.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah antara yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.