Novak Djokovic will compete at the Paris Masters next week. The 21-time Major winner joins Rafael Nadal in the final Masters 1000 event of the season, seeking his 39th title at that level and his seventh in the French capital.
Djokovic is on the practice court at his tennis center in Belgrade. The Serb claimed back-to-back ATP titles in Tel Aviv and Astana a couple of weeks ago, added 750 points to his tally and picked up where he left off at Wimbledon in July.
Djokovic qualified for the ATP Finals with those points and will be among the favorites in Turin, seeking the first ATP Finals crown since 2015. Novak should be the favorite in Paris, winning 41 of 49 matches at this event and remaining the holder. of the record. with six trophies.
The Serb went all the way a year ago, beating Daniil Medvedev 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in two hours and 15 minutes. Novak saved seven of ten break points and secured five breaks from six chances to emerge on top.
Novak Djokovic will try to defend his Paris Masters crown next week.
Djokovic built up a big advantage in the shorter rallies of up to four shots, dominating the opponent’s serve to cross the finish line in style after a slower start.
Medvedev won two more points than Djokovic in the opener, defending one of two break points and stealing Novak’s serve twice from six chances. Daniil grabbed a break in the first game of the encounter following a loose drop shot from Novak and held at 15 in the second game thanks to the Serb’s backhand error.
Djokovic held love in the third game to put his name on the scoreboard and broke love again after Medvedev’s double fault to level the score at 2-2. Daniil fended off a break point in game six with a forehand volley winner and hit a winner in the next to grab a break and open a 4-3 gap.
Serving for the set at 5-4, the Russian fired a service winner to clinch the first set in 41 minutes and move closer to defending his title. Novak found the rhythm in his games in the second set. He broke in game four after Daniil’s backhand error and served for the set at 5-3.
In one of the key games, Djokovic fended off three break chances and converted the third set point with an ace down the T-line to introduce a decider and gain momentum. Losing ground midway through the final set, Daniil experienced breaks in games five and seven to find himself down 5-2, struggling to penetrate Novak’s defense and impose his punches.
The Russian recovered a break in game eight to reduce the deficit before the Serb grabbed the third straight break with a forehand winner at 5-3 and emerged on top.
