Top 5 Photos, October 30: Djokovic saves two set points; Thiem on song

The world No. 1 began his Paris campaign with opening-match jitters, while last weekend's Vienna champion continued his winning ways on Wednesday.

By Jordaan SanfordPublished October 30, 2019

Top-seeded players were made to work in their Paris openers, while WTA Finals Shenzhen action continued with the Purple Group. These are the Top 5 photos that sum up Wednesday's action.

1. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic returned to the court for the first time since his Shanghai quarterfinal loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas. Djokovic needed to shake off early result and was forced to save two set points, before overcoming Frenchman Corentin Moutet, 7-6 (2), 6-4, in his Paris opener. The 16-time major champion will attempt to capture his fifth title of the season this week and is a win away from reaching 50 victories on the year.

PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 30: Novak Djokovic of Serbia enters the court to play his match against Corentin Moutet of France on day 3 of the Rolex Paris Masters, part of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 held at the at AccorHotels Arena on October 30, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) — © Getty Images

Getty Images

2. Dominic Thiem had to fight for his second-round win in Paris against Milos Raonic. The world No. 5 battled through three tight sets to post a 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-4 victory. Thiem slipped past the Canadian earlier this year in similar fashion by winning their Indian Wells semifinal, 6-4, in the third. The recent Vienna champion is seeking an ATP-leading sixth title of the year.

Austria's Dominic Thiem returns the ball to Canada's Milos Raonic during their men's singles tennis match on day three of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 - Rolex Paris Masters - indoor tennis tournament at The AccorHotels Arena in Paris on October 30, 2019. (Photo by Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP via Getty Images) — © AFP via Getty Images

Getty Images

3. Bianca Andreescu has proven this year she can defeat anyone... when healthy. The US Open champion has battled injuries throughout the early stages of her professional career, including earlier this year when a right shoulder issue kept her off the court for the bulk of the clay season and the entire grass swing. During her WTA Finals match against Karolina Pliskova, the Canadian's woes returned. She was forced to retire due to a left knee injury after dropping the first set, 6-3.

SHENZHEN, CHINA - OCTOBER 30: Bianca Andreescu of Canada speaks to her coach Sylvain Bruneau after sustaining an injury to her left leg during a break in her Women's Singles match against Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic on Day Four of the 2019 Shiseido WTA Finals at Shenzhen Bay Sports Center on October 30, 2019 in Shenzhen, China. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) — © Getty Images

Getty Images

4. ATP Finals qualifier Stefanos Tsitsipas prevailed over American Taylor Fritz in the pair's first tournament meetings. The Greek, who edged Fritz in September's Laver Cup, won, 7-6 (3), 6-3, to claim his first victory at the Paris Masters. After a difficult summer swing, the world No. 7 reached the Beijing final and added semifinal showings in Shanghai and Basel.

PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 30: Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece enters the court to play his match against Taylor Fritz of USA on day 3 of the Rolex Paris Masters, part of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 held at the at AccorHotels Arena on October 30, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) — © Getty Images

Getty Images

5. For much of 2019, Grigor Dimitrov had experienced a number of low points. The former world No. 3 salvaged his season by ousting Roger Federer to reach his first US Open semifinal, propelling him back inside the Top 30. Just 18-20 this year, Dimitrov was in form against David Goffin, posting a 7-5, 6-3 score to capture his fifth consecutive match against the Belgian.

PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 30: Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria returns a backhand in his match against David Goffin of Belgium on day 3 of the Rolex Paris Masters, part of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 held at the at AccorHotels Arena on October 30, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) — © Getty Images

Getty Images