Djokovic wins at Paris Masters to keep ATP Finals hopes alive

Novak Djokovic kept his last-ditch qualification bid for the season-ending ATP Finals alive on Tuesday by battling past Valentin Vacherot in the first round of the Paris Masters. Winning 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 6-1, the 39-year-old Serbian star also became the oldest man to win a match at the prestigious indoor tournament.

Trailing by a set and a break against an opponent riding high from winning the Swiss Indoors title in Basel, Djokovic faced a difficult challenge on the fast court. Vacherot fired 22 aces past him, prompting Djokovic to note the extreme speed of the conditions. "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."

During a tense second set, both players required medical timeouts. Djokovic received treatment and a massage on his right shoulder, while Vacherot had his left ankle strapped. Down 4-4, Djokovic saved three crucial break points to prevent his opponent from serving for the match. He then capitalized on Vacherot's dropped serve and dominated the third set to secure the victory in two and a half hours.

Reflecting on the physical battle and the vibrant crowd support, Djokovic told Sky Sports, "Not the freshest out there after two and a half hours but I am glad to turned this match around. Vacherot won in Basel and had a lot of confidence. You could feel that... You try and find a way." He later added, "This is the year where I've got a lot of support in Paris. I found a good groove in the end. I'm pleased about that, and I think it's the energy created in the stadium -- that's what this year's victory is all about."

The veteran player is currently ranked 11th in the Race to Turin and likely needs to reach at least the semifinals in Paris to secure a spot in the eight-man ATP Finals. With Jannik Sinner sidelined for the remainder of the season due to injury, the threshold for qualification sits within the top nine spots. Djokovic is chasing his 17th appearance at the season finale, having missed the past two editions due to injury.

Looking ahead in the tournament, Djokovic is scheduled to face Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata in the second round. Meanwhile, other matches at the Paris Masters saw American third-seed Ben Shelton defeat Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4, and Tommy Paul eliminate 2022 champion Holger Rune 7-5, 6-4. Top players including Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, and Daniil Medvedev have already secured their qualification for Turin.