World No 1 Novak Djokovic recovered from a stuttering start to kick off his Paris Masters campaign with a 7-6, 6-4 second-round victory over French youngster Corentin Moutet.
The Serbian, looking to end the year at the top of the ATP rankings for a record-equalling sixth time, saved two set points before hammering his way past the 20-year-old Moutet.
World No 2 Rafael Nadal, who will leapfrog Djokovic in the rankings if he wins in Paris, eased past France’s Adrian Mannarino 7-5 6-4.
The Spaniard was always in control, breaking in the last game of each set to tee up a meeting with Swiss Stan Wawrinka.
“I know how dangerous Adrian is in this court. The court here is fast, the bounce is low, so I think is a perfect court for him,” Nadal said. “So I went on court knowing it [was] going to be very tough one. I needed to play well, and I think I did. My serve worked very well during the whole match. I think I played at the right level.
“It’s not easy to come back on the Tour after a while without being on the Tour. And playing in this surface … and against a very dangerous opponent, in the first round for me, second for him. So [I’ m] very happy with the victory.”