Novak Djokovic produced an inspiring comeback victory to defeat Valentin Vacherot in three sets in the opening round of the Rolex Paris Masters, keeping his 2026 ATP Tour season alive. The Serbian entered the tournament needing a deep run to boost his chances of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals after finding himself a set and a break down during the grueling encounter.
Match Struggles and Turning Point
The opening match on the fastest indoor courts of the year saw Vacherot start strongly, firing six aces across his first two service games and earning three break points in the first set. Djokovic forced a tiebreak, but uncharacteristic unforced errors handed the momentum to the Monegasque player, who closed out the set. Vacherot then immediately broke Djokovic at the start of the second set, prompting the Serbian to take a medical timeout for a shoulder issue.
The treatment immediately sparked a turnaround as Djokovic broke back in the following game. Vacherot then required a medical timeout of his own midway through the set for a foot issue. After saving two crucial break points in the ninth game, Djokovic produced clutch returns to break Vacherot and force a deciding set. He then secured an early break in the third set, maintaining composure on his serve to complete the victory.
A Difficult 2026 Campaign
This season marks the first time since 2017 that Djokovic’s place in Turin has remained uncertain as physical issues and age have impacted his performances. Djokovic has played 30 ATP Tour matches this year, winning 21 for a win rate of 70 percent. The campaign has featured physical struggles, early exits at two of the four Major tournaments, and opening-round losses at several other events.
Despite these difficulties, the Serbian has delivered notable highlights, including defeating two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open and claiming his 102nd career title in October by winning the Beijing Open after defeating three top-10 players in a row.
Djokovic will look to build on this opening-round win in Paris as he continues his late push to reach the ATP Finals to close out the year.
