Djokovic survives scare in Paris opener, Nadal also through

TIL Desk Sports/ Novak Djokovic defied illness to survive a scare against French lucky loser Corentin Moutet and reach the third round of the Paris Masters while Rafael Nadal saw off a plucky challenge from Adrian Mannarino.

Top seed Djokovic, locked in a battle with Nadal for the year-end world number one spot, had to save two set points in the first set before beating the 97th-ranked Moutet 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old will play Britain’s Kyle Edmund on Thursday in the last 16 as he continues his bid for a record-extending fifth Bercy title. “I don’t feel health-wise 100 percent in the last couple of days, but it is what it is,” said Djokovic, who was struggling with a sore throat.

“It affects your energy, your vitality on the court. Obviously it’s not ideal, but in these kind of circumstances you just have to accept it and do everything that you can to recover.”