Aussie's stunning takedown of Novak Djokovic at Paris Masters

·Sports Reporter

3 November 2021 at 9:46 pm·2-min read

John Peers (pictured right) volleying the ball and Novak Djokovic (pictured left) looking frustrated. — John Peers (pictured right) and Filip Polášek defeated Novak Djokovic (pictured left) and Filip Krajinović in the second round of the doubles at the Paris Masters. (Getty Images)

World No.1 singles player Novak Djokovic has fallen in his doubles quest at the Paris Masters to Australian John Peers and Filip Polášek.

Djokovic surprised fans when he announced his doubles participation upon his return to tennis after the US Open.

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Djokovic and Filip Krajinović won their Round of 32 match against two Australians, but were bested in the Round of 16 after a dominant performance from Aussie Peers and Slovakian Polášek 7-6, 6-4.

Peers and Polášek recently won the Indian Wells doubles final.

The World No.1 was clearly trying to gather match practice ahead of the ATP Finals tournament, which he aims to keep his year-end World No.1 ranking.

Djokovic will now take on Gael Monfils in the Round of 16 singles tournament.

All-Australian duel at Paris Masters

Alexei Popyrin and James Duckworth have set up a fascinating all-Australian duel at the Paris Masters with the pair having more at stake than just the prospect of a quarter-final spot in one of the ATP Tour's biggest tournaments.

Popyrin's victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas, which came when the Greek star had to retire at 4-2 down with an arm injury, has earned him a chance to prove why Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt was right to pick him ahead of Duckworth for the upcoming Davis Cup finals.

Duckworth, whose resurgence this season has seen him rise to No.2 in the Australian men's rankings, has made clear his disappointment at being overlooked by Hewitt.

Alexei Popyrin (pictured) returns the ball to Stefanos Tsitsipas during their men's singles tennis match on day three of the ATP Paris Masters. (Photo by CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP via Getty Images) (CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT via Getty Images)

After defeating Italian young gun Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to ensure he's set to enter the world's top 50 for the first time next week, Duckworth will doubtless relish the chance to take on his fellow Sydneysider Popyrin in the last 16.

Popyrin's day was short and dramatic, the 22-year-old playing some brilliant tennis in the opening exchanges of his second-round clash with world No.3 Tsitsipas.

with AAP

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