Djokovic reaches quarterfinals

Novak Djokovic rallied from a set down yesterday to beat fellow Serb Viktor Troicki 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 and reach the quarterfinals of the Paris Masters. Andy Murray of Britain, Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic and David Ferrer of Spain also advanced.

The top-ranked Djokovic looked a pale shadow of the player who dominated the first half of the season, making 44 unforced errors compared to 28 winners. Djokovic dropped serve twice to lose the first set. He then broke for a 4-2 lead in the second, and leveled the match when Tipsarevic sent a bakchand wide. The Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion then raced to a 4-0 lead in the final set. Murray routed Andy Roddick of the United States 6-2, 6-2 and will next face Berdych, who beat Janko Tipsarevic 7-5, 6-4.

The second-seeded British player improved his record to 17-0 since the U.S. Open and has now won 27 of his last 28 matches since mid-August. Murray outclassed Roddick, hitting 27 winners compared to only four for the American. He broke Roddick twice in each set, taking the first with a crosscourt forehand winner before clinching victory with an ace.“I started the match well, which against him is always important, because he plays his best when he’s ahead,” Murray said.