Novak Djokovic beats Valentin Vacherot to keep ATP Finals hopes alive

Novak Djokovic secured a hard-fought victory against Valentin Vacherot in the first round of the Rolex Paris Masters on Tuesday, winning 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-1 to keep his hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals alive. The 39-year-old Serbian, currently ranked 11th in the world, needed two hours and 35 minutes to overcome the Monaco-born challenger at the Plenitude Arena, according to reports from Marca.

The win marks a significant result for Djokovic in his pursuit of a spot in the season-ending tournament in Turin. He is currently 11th in the Race to the ATP Finals, trailing the final qualifying position—held by Rafael Jódar—by 294 points. To bridge that gap, the seven-time Paris champion is required to reach at least the semifinal stage in the French capital, as noted by Yahoo.

A physical test in Paris

The match presented immediate challenges for the veteran star. Vacherot, who arrived in Paris following a title win in Basel, took the opening set in a tiebreak. During the transition, Djokovic required medical attention for his right shoulder, while Vacherot later received treatment for a left ankle injury that required heavy bandaging. Marca reported that the younger player struggled to maintain his intensity after the injury, allowing the 39-year-old to control the court movement and dominate the final set.

Djokovic’s performance in the third set reflected the form that has earned him 40 Masters 1000 titles. By consistently moving his opponent across the baseline, he broke Vacherot’s serve twice to close out the match. This victory extends his record as the oldest player to win a match in the tournament’s history, surpassing Jimmy Connors.

The path to Turin

The stakes for the remainder of the week are high. Djokovic needs to reach at least semifinals and wait for other results to get into his 19th ATP Finals in the last 20 years, although in the last two he declined to play, according to Casasdeapuestas.com.

The tournament field remains competitive, with several other players still vying for the remaining spots in the season finale. Athletes such as Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, and Jiri Lehecka are also within reach of the qualifying cut-off, as reported by Yahoo. The absence of Italian player Flavio Cobolli due to injury has further altered the landscape of the race.

Next match against Hijikata

Following his win over Vacherot, Djokovic is scheduled to face Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata in the second round. The match will test the Serbian’s physical recovery after the lengthy opening-round encounter. While the win in Paris broke a four-match losing streak in Masters 1000 events, Djokovic’s ability to sustain this level of play through the later rounds remains the primary question for his supporters and analysts alike.

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