Novak Djokovic clinched his seventh Paris Masters trophy and earned his 40th Masters title on Sunday, extending his record in the competition. In a commanding display, the world’s top-ranked player defeated Grigor Dimitrov, the unseeded contender, with a straightforward 6-4 6-3 victory.
Reflecting on his triumph, the 36-year-old Djokovic acknowledged the week’s challenges, stating, “It’s incredible to be able to win it after quite challenging circumstances this week. I basically came back from the brink of losing three matches in a row so I’m very proud of this one considering what I’ve been through this week.”
Throughout the 2023 season, Djokovic has notably claimed six titles, including three Grand Slam wins and the Cincinnati Masters trophy. His dominance on hard courts is evident with 33 victories and just one loss.
In his 58th Masters final, the Serb faced limited challenge from Dimitrov, who was participating in only his second Masters final. Djokovic secured the first set with a single break, taking advantage as Dimitrov made errors, including a crucial backhand into the net.
Despite the fervour of the Bercy crowd, Djokovic’s serene journey to victory continued into the second set with a double break. Dimitrov couldn’t replicate the form he displayed earlier in the week, resulting in 19 unforced errors in the first set compared to Djokovic’s 10.
Djokovic’s next endeavour will be the season-ending ATP Tour Finals in Turin. He’s poised to be a strong favourite to clinch a record-breaking seventh title and solidify his position as the year-end number-one player in the world for an eighth time.
In the doubles final, Mexican Santiago Gonzalez and Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin secured their second Masters title of the year by defeating the Indian-Australian pair, Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden, with a score of 6-2 5-7 10-7.
Meanwhile, Britain’s Jack Draper overcame David Goffin 1-6 7-6 (6-3) 6-3 in the Bergamo Challenger in Italy, securing his first title of a season marked by injuries.
With Dan Evans sidelined due to injury, 21-year-old Draper is expected to play a pivotal role in the upcoming Davis Cup Finals.
Source: BBC Sports
