Novak Djokovic is chasing a record seventh year-end No. 1 finish in the FedEx ATP Rankings at the Rolex Paris Masters in singles this week. But his focus was firmly on doubles on Monday when he teamed with countryman Filip Krajinovic to reach the second round.

The Serbian pair rallied from a set down and saved seven of the eight break points they faced to edge Australians Alex de Minaur and Luke Saville 4-6, 6-4, 10-7 in one hour and 36 minutes in an entertaining match.

It is just the third time Djokovic – who faces Marton Fucsovics in his first singles match – has played doubles this year, having also competed at the ATP Cup (w/Krajinovic) and the Mallorca Championships (w/Gomez-Herrera). The wild cards will next take on sixth seeds John Peers and Filip Polasek.

Ariel Behar and Gonzalo Escobar also moved through, battling back from a set-and-a-break down to overcome Raven Klaasen and Ben McLachlan 6-7(1), 7-6(3), 10-6 in two hours and one minute.

The Uruguayan-Ecuadorian tandem won 79 per cent (37/47) of their first-serve points and will meet third seeds Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut in the second round. Behar and Escobar have captured tour-level titles together in Delray Beach and Marbella this season.

Fabrice Martin and Andreas Mies cruised past Jean-Julien Rojer and Wesley Koolhof 6-3, 7-5 in one hour and 30 minutes. The unseeded pair hit four aces and broke three times to set up a clash with seventh seeds Kevin Krawietz and Horia Tecau.

Source Tennis – ATP World Tour