Novak Djokovic overcame a scare late in the second set to beat big-serving Valentin Vacherot 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-1 in the first round of the Paris Masters on Tuesday.
The men’s record 24-time Grand Slam winner is chasing a 103rd career title, which would move him level in second place with Roger Federer. Jimmy Connors leads in the Open era on 109.
A narrow escape for the 10th seed
The 10th-seeded Serb could have gone out early in Paris. Serving at 4-4 in the second set, he needed to save three break points to stop Vacherot from serving for the match. Vacherot had won the Swiss Indoors on Sunday and had beaten Djokovic in the Shanghai Masters semi-finals last year.
Djokovic admitted the Monaco player’s serve had given him problems. “His second serves are faster than my first serves, so it’s very tough to play a guy in these conditions, which are really, really fast,” Djokovic said. “Last year was very slow, this year is like ice.”
Vacherot’s serve proved hard to read. Djokovic was bamboozled by the “huge” serves and watched 22 aces fly past him.
“For a set and a half, I had difficulty reading his serve,” Djokovic said. “Even if I guessed right, it was coming with some speed.”
Djokovic seizes control
After breaking Vacherot to level the match, Djokovic broke him again at the start of the deciding set to take control. He sealed the win on his second match point with a fine two-handed backhand winner down the line from the back of the court.
Both players took a medical timeout during the second set. Djokovic had a massage on his right shoulder, while Vacherot had his left ankle strapped.
Shelton, Fritz and other results
Also on Tuesday, third seed Ben Shelton moved into the third round by beating fellow left-hander Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4. The American equalled his season-best total with a 42nd win. He has also added Carlos Alcaraz’s former coach Juan Carlos Ferrero to his team for 2027. Shelton has already secured his place at the ATP Finals from 15 to 22 November, alongside top-ranked Alexander Zverev, seven-time major winner Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev.
Djokovic is chasing a place in the event but sits outsider at 11th in the race. The ATP said he needs to reach at least the semi-finals in Paris to stay in contention, with only an ATP250 event remaining in Stockholm after Paris.
No. 11 seed Taylor Fritz, who is one place below Djokovic, beat Benjamin Bonzi 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
In other first-round matches, French teenager Moïse Kouame, a fan favourite at this year’s French Open, lost 6-3, 6-1 to Nuno Borges. The 2022 champion Holger Rune lost 7-5, 6-4 to No. 12 seed Tommy Paul.
Rune is still finding his way back after an Achilles injury. The 23-year-old Dane returned to action in September and lost to Vacherot in the quarter-finals last week at the Swiss Indoors.
Looking ahead
In the third round on Wednesday, Zverev faces mercurial Italian Lorenzo Musetti. Djokovic plays qualifier Rinky Hijikata, while second seed Alcaraz takes on Alex Michelsen and No. 4 seed Medvedev plays Ignacio Buse.