Paris Masters: Djokovic marks return to singles action with hard-fought win

Novak Djokovic marked his return to the singles court with a hard-fought win in his Paris Masters opener against Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics.

World number one Djokovic, 34, won 6-2 4-6 6-3 in his first singles match since Russia’s Daniil Medvedev dashed his hopes of clinching a calendar Grand Slam at the US Open final in September.

“It was a great fight and a great opening match for me,” said Djokovic.

“I did not expect anything but I knew it was not going to be an easy match.”

Djokovic is aiming to finish 2021 as the year-end men’s number one for a record seventh time. He plays Gael Monfils or Adrian Mannarino next.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion took an extended break after the emotional defeat by Medvedev in New York, where he was left in tears when his dream of becoming the first man in more than 50 years to win all four majors in the same season was ended.