Tennis: Djokovic Beats Medvedev, Claims Paris Masters Title
Tennis world number one Novak Djokovic won a record sixth Paris Masters title after beating world number two Daniil Medvedev 4-6 6-3 6-3 in Sunday’s finale.
Djokovic, who was looking to avoid ending a season without a Masters title for the first time since 2017, kept his cool throughout to accomplish his mission against the holder.
Medvedev broke in the opening game as Djokovic made a flurry of unforced errors with the Russian keeping him on the back foot. The world number one levelled for 2-2 but Medvedev stole his serve again to move 4-3 up with a splendid sliced backhand at the net.
The Russian then held serve twice to pocket the first set when Djokovic returned long. The Serbian, however, turned the tables in the second set, going 3-1 up as Medvedev buried a backhand into the net.
Djokovic served and volleyed to save a break point at 5-3 and saw off a second with a big serve. Medvedev set up a third with a spectacular block at the net but the top seed’s first serve again came to the rescue.
Djokovic eventually took the match into a decider with an ace on his third set point. He broke for 3-2 courtesy of three unforced errors by Medvedev and stole his opponent’s serve again to move 5-2 up.
Serving for the match, Djokovic gave Medvedev too much space and the Russian pulled a break back but his tank was empty and he surrendered on his serve in the next game. Medvedev bowed out of the contest on the first match point in the third set when Djokovic unleashed a superb forehand winner down the line.
Djokovic, who is guaranteed to secure the year-end world number one spot for a record seventh time, needed time to adjust to break the Russian’s defence but was unstoppable once he found his opening.
“Just proud and extremely happy. Obviously that was one of the biggest goals, to try to be number 1,” Djokovic said after the match.
“To do it for the record seventh time and surpass my childhood idol and role model, Pete (Sampras), is incredible.”
Chidi Nwoke/Reuters.
