Paris Masters: Novak Djokovic downs Daniil Medvedev for record sixth title

Novak Djokovic was looking to avoid ending a season without a Masters title for the first time since 2017 and kept his focus throughout to accomplish his mission.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic after winning the Paris Masters title. (Photo: Reuters)

Novak Djokovic won a record-extending sixth Paris Masters title and a record 37th premium title by avenging his US Open final defeat against Russian Daniil Medvedev with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory in Sunday’s (November 7) showpiece match. The Serbian, who is guaranteed to finish the year as world number one for a record seventh time, beating Pete Sampras’s mark, needed time to break Medvedev’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 focus throughout to accomplish his mission. World No. 2 Medvedev was overwhelmed in the third set and bowed out of the contest on the first match point when Djokovic unleashed a superb forehand winner down the line.

“I consider myself a student of the sport, and I really respect and admire all of the past champions that paved the way for me and, all the generations that are playing tennis right now,” said Djokovic. “We are enjoying the benefits of this game in every sense because of the past champions that made the tour the way it is today. I’m very grateful for that. Of course, when I surpass one of the past champions, particularly someone that I looked up to when I was a kid like Pete Sampras, it means the world to me. It’s kind of a surreal feeling.”

Two months after Medvedev denied Djokovic a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam men`s singles title at Flushing Meadows, the Russian was hoping to lock his opponent into a backhand-to-backhand battle again. Defending champion Medvedev broke in the opening game as Djokovic made a flurry of unforced errors.

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 complained he had been bothered by a spectator making too much noise in the crowd.

“I got mad because crucial, crucial moment, 5-2 for him, double break, even if I manage to get the break back, we all know that against Novak it’s tough to actually come back from this score," he told a news conference.

What a day, what a week. Blessing after blessing. My loves both my children witnessing this moment. Crown for years of hard work. My amazing team. Fantastic matches. Many memories to take away. Grateful to bring home another tree in the woods to where this wolf sleeps pic.twitter.com/j5T5TScHeZ

— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) November 7, 2021

“I got mad because it was not nice, and it was done on purpose. Some of the spectators, they were just into the match and you could feel it. You’re getting ready for serve, they were like, Allez, Novak, or Allez, Daniil. But you could feel it was like they are just trying not to be in the game, and you wait.

“This one was done, when I did the toss already, it was done by a Serbian spectator... I hope he doesn’t watch tennis anymore.”