Novak Djokovic vs Karen Khachanov Prediction & Betting Tips - Rolex Paris Masters

Prediction published on 02/11/2022, 09:15  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 02/11/2022 at 17:27 in Tennis Predictions

Defending champion Novak Djokovic faces unseeded Karen Khachanov in the Paris Masters last 16. Djokovic is the sixth seed in this tournament and if winning this match will face either third seed Casper Ruud or Lorenzo Musetti in the quarter finals. Although only 10th in the ATP Race, he has no pressure on him to qualify for the Tour Finals. He's already in the line-up courtesy of his Grand Slam title won at Wimbledon this year. Djokovic is in top form and has won his last three singles tournaments and four of the last five. The only match he's lost since May was to Felix Auger-Aliassime in the Laver Cup held in September. This week has seen him defeat Maxime Cressy in straight sets.

Karen Khachanov famously won the Paris Masters in 2018 but he's only reached one ATP Tour final since then and that was in January of this year. He reached the US Open semi-finals this year but has failed to get past the third round of any Masters tournament this year. Khachanov began this week ranked 19th but since that US open semi-final, he's only made it past the last 16 in one of his three tournaments played. That was in Astana where he reached the quarter finals and lost in straight sets to Novak Djokovic. That was his sixth straight loss to the Serb and he's 7-1 down in past meetings. The only win he's had against Djokovic in the final of this tournament four years ago.  This week has seen Khachanov defeat Sebastian Baez (for the loss of just two games) and qualifer Marc-Andrea Husler in three sets, losing the middle one. Back Djokovic to win this in straight sets.