Novak Djokovic won a record-extending sixth Paris Masters title by avenging his U.S Open final defeat against Russian Daniil Medvedev with a 4-6 6-3 6-3 victory in Sunday’s showpiece match.
The Serbian, who is guaranteed to secure the year-end world number one spot for a record seventh time, needed time to adjust to break the world number two’s sturdy defence but was unstoppable once he found his opening.
Djokovic was looking to avoid ending a season without a Masters title for the first time since 2017 and kept his cool throughout to accomplish his mission against the holder. The Serbian added a record 37th Masters title to move one clear of fellow 20-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal.
Two months after Medvedev denied Djokovic a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam men’s singles title when he beat the Serb at Flushing Meadows, the Russian was hoping to lock his opponent into a backhand-to-backhand battle again.
Medvedev broke in the opening game as Djokovic made a flurry of unforced errors with the lanky 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.
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 he 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.
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