Novak Djokovic makes easy work of Etcheverry at Rolex Paris Masters

Novak Djokovic is a machine. We all know this as we have known the same for almost two decades. Is Novak Djokovic the greatest player? There is some debate, though with every passing week, he seems to put any dispute further by the wayside.

There is a very good likelihood that Djokovic will hold on to his current No. 1 ranking and finish the year ranked at the top for the eighth year, which would be a record (of course). Djokovic also will have a good chance of exceeding a ridiculous 400 weeks atop the ATP rankings, which will be almost 100 weeks more than any other player. If Novak Djokovic wins the Rolex Paris Masters he will do so for the seventh time. Again, that’s a record.

In fact, Djokovic has won all nine ATP Masters tournaments at least twice. No other player has even won all the Masters events once. Is Novak Djokovic the best tennis player ever? Likely.

Novak Djokovic easily moves on to the third round of the Rolex Paris Masters

On Wednesday, Djokovic toyed with Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Djokovic was leading 4-3 in the first set and then Etcheverry showed a bit of weakness during his next service game and Djokovic took advantage to get the break. The Serb took the first set 6-3. Djokovic then broke Etcheverry to begin the second set and the outcome was basically secured. For good measure, Djokovic got another break which made the final 6-3 6-2 in favor of the top-seeded player.

The thing that made the victory even more impressive was that Novak Djokovic never seemed nervous and simply seemed to be using the match to get some work in after taking the last month-plus off to rest and have some fun. How must that feel to an opponent? They already must have more dreams than hopes of beating Djokovic but then when he swipes them away with so much ease that must be demoralizing.

Novak Djokovic now faces a tournament without second-seed Carlos Alcaraz (who lost on Tuesday in straight sets in the second round) and Daniil Medvedev (who lost on Wednesday in three sets). The Serb was already clearly the best player in the field and now there is even greater distance between him and the next best player. He might simply sweep away every opponent he faces the rest of the way at the Paris Masters with the same ease he wiped away Tomas Martin Etcheverry.