Masters 1000 Paris: Federer-Djokovic, a must wait

Rejected twice this season, the poster between Novak Djokovic, fresh N.1 world and Roger Federer, can still take shape at the Masters 1000 in Paris if both win in their quarterfinals Friday evening.

This is not to insult the Russian Khachanov and Dominic Thiem, both winners of their quarter-final on Friday against Alexander Zverev and Jack Sock. But their semi-final Saturday will not have the same flavor depending on the results of the "Master" and the Serb.

What better way to establish his status as world tennis boss, recovered this week after Rafael Nadal's withdrawal, than to face Switzerland? Djokovic has already done this season in Cincinnati early August, in a match where the Serb, in the wake of his victory at Wimbledon, had not left much room for suspense by winning in two sets (6-4 , 6-4).

New York did not get the revenge two weeks later at the US Open. Blame Federer, beaten in the round of 16 by the Australian Milman, while Djoko was waiting for him.

Bis repetita in Shanghai at the beginning of October: Federer, beaten by Borna Coric in the semifinal, let Djoko get rid of it in the final. These two failures have pushed up the odds of this reunion.

– Khachanov, a slugger –

The question is whether Federer can really beat Djokovic right now, and if he's ready to drop a lot of impulses here in Paris, while the London Masters is looming.

Thursday night, after his victory against Fognini, the tone of the Swiss did not push for a limitless investment.

"I do not come here to win," he said. A way to remove the pressure, of course. But not likely to hope a strong desire to do battle either.

To face Djokovic Saturday in the semifinals, it will already pbad the stage Nishikori. The Japanese, 11th in the world, returned in February after several months of absence, and still in the race for the Masters makes a very nice end of the season.

Semi-finalist at the US Open, he will certainly give a bit of trouble to Switzerland.

The task will not be easy either for Djokovic, opposed to Marin Cilic, one of the future opponents of France in the Davis Cup final in three weeks in Lille.

Both players know each other well.

"He has a big serve and is very good bottom It's going to be a big match, hard to return his missiles," said the Serb, whose challenge is not to demobilize after reclaiming the world throne.

The Croatian will be a little more followed here in Paris before the opposition that awaits him against the Blues.

But this weekend can also smile young Khachanov, one of the lowest ranked last square, but perhaps the coolest shot. This big slugger, not very fond of subtlety in his game, did not really have to force himself to beat Alexander Zverev.

– Winners at a discount –

Embarrbaded on the shoulder, "since the beginning of the week", he confessed, the German has attacked the demonic calendar.

"I hope that ATP will at some point realize that tennis players can not play 11 months in the year, and that we need time for our bodies and rest," said N. 4 worldwide.

Not without letting go a little spike tinged with truth about the Parisian tournament. "You know, historically this tournament has winners who should not have won here because the best players have played so much that they arrive tired," he said.

For Dominic Thiem, future opponent of Khachanov, his affinities with Paris are confirmed. After his final at Roland-Garros this summer, he can afford a second four months later.

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