The Serbian, who is defending his title, took an hour and a half to inflict a 6-4, 6-1 on the Russian Karen Khachanov (19th in the world) who had beaten him in the final of the 2018 edition. said he did not feel well at the start of the meeting.

"The two rounds were completely different, he analyzed. In the second, I felt good, physically too. But in the first, I was like this, like that. I had a lot of difficulties. opportunities on his serve, but we were very close until the last point in the first set. Then I relaxed and took over."

In his quest for a record seventh title at Bercy, Djokovic will find young Lorenzo Musetti (23rd at 20) on his way on Friday.

The Italian has so far been more effective on clay than on hard, but he was able to "adjust his game to this surface", underlined the Djoker.

As proof, he beat in the 8th Thursday the finalist of Roland-Garros and the US Open, Casper Ruud (4th), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Chef's surprise

Novak Djokovic during his quarter-final against Karen Khachanov at the Masters 1000 in Paris on November 3, 2022 Christophe ARCHAMBAULT AFP

"Tactically, I know what I have to do, but I'm not going to talk about it, come tomorrow to see," Djokovic said.

Deprived of the American summer tour by his decision not to be vaccinated against Covid-19, and thus of competition for more than two months after his title at Wimbledon in July, the 35-year-old Serb is on a series of eleven matches won since he returned to the circuit at the end of September.

The former world No.1, currently 7th, successively won the Tel Aviv and Astana tournaments before coming to Paris.

The current N.1, the very young Carlos Alcaraz (19), also qualified for the quarters by being expeditious against the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (28th), swept away 6-1, 6-3 in 71 minutes .

It had already taken him only 75 minutes to swallow his first opponent.

"It was not his day, he did not play at his best level. But I played my game", summed up Alcaraz who committed only six unforced errors for sixteen winning shots, when his opponent posted a record of 24 unforced errors for sixteen winning points.

A bad sign for his next opponents, the Spanish bulldozer also got rid of the adhesive strips protecting his left knee during the game.

Carlos Alcaraz during his round of 16 against Grigor Dimitrov at the Masters 1000 in Paris on November 3, 2022 Christophe ARCHAMBAULT AFP

In addition to the prospect of a new prestigious trophy (in addition to the US Open and the Masters 1000 in Miami and Madrid, already won this year), a final victory in Paris would ensure Alcaraz to end the year at the top of the hierarchy. world.

Tsitsipas in the know

To achieve this, you will have to start by dominating the Dane Holger Rune (18th at 19) who made a strong impression by leaving the Russian slugger Andrey Rublev (9th) 6-4, 7-5.

The winner of this duel will be opposed in the semi-finals to the winner of the one which will oppose the American Frances Tiafoe (21st) on Friday to the man in form of the moment, the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime (8th).

The latter ended Thursday the career of one of the greatest French players of recent years, Gilles Simon (ex-N.6 who played as 188th), whom he beat 6-1, 6 -3.

At 22, FAA is aiming at Bercy for a fourth title in four weeks after winning in Florence, Antwerp and Basel.

As for Tiafoe, semi-finalist of the last US Open, he got rid of the Australian Alex de Minaur (25th) 6-3, 7-6 (7/5).

At the bottom of the table, Stefanos Tsitsipas (5th) qualified for the quarterfinals by dominating Frenchman Corentin Moutet (64th and from qualifying) 6-3, 7-6 (7/3).

Stefanos Tsitsipas during his round of 16 against Corentin Moutet at the Masters 1000 in Paris on November 3, 2022 Christophe ARCHAMBAULT AFP

"I did not expect an easy match, he has great shots, he plays unpredictable shots out of nowhere," said Tsitsipas, who will face the Spaniard Pablo Carreno (14th) or the American Tommy Paul ( 31st) to try to climb into the last four.

© 2022 AFP