Novak Djokovic returned to tennis with a doubles match at the 2023 Paris Masters, and it was a very good showing from the Serbian alongside Miomir Kecmanovic.
Djokovic playing doubles is a rare occasion. It mostly happens when he needs matches to ramp up for an event or to practice his skills a bit more. His choice to play doubles at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Paris has to do with a little bit of both.
For starters, Djokovic hasn't really played since the US Open, skipping over the entire Asian swing, so he is indeed in need of matches. Going deep in a strong draw after that break is not a guarantee, so playing some doubles is insurance that he'll indeed spend some competitive time on the tennis court.
He also wants to practice chemistry with Kecmanovic, as both are part of the Serbian Davis Cup team for the Final Eight showdown later this year. The country has no dedicated doubles player, so Djokovic will likely play with Kecmanovic in all of their ties. Some practice time before that can't hurt.
It was a superb showing from the Serbian pairing as they easily bested Gonzalo Escobar and Aleksandr Nedovyesov. The match was not close at all as the Serbians cruised in both sets. The first set lasted about 40 minutes and saw the Serbian duo win 6-4.
They actually had a double-break lead but lost one of them, which didn't matter much in the end. They cruised to the finish line comfortably. The second set was even more impressive as they completely smashed their opponents, holding their double-break lead this time around.
The final score was 6-4 6-2. They dominated on their serve and did a lot of damage on the second serve, which will be crucial for Djokovic any time he's in the doubles. His return usually creates havoc.
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