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Djokovic opens Paris Masters against Basel champion Vacherot with Turin place on the line
The 10th seed needs at least a semi-final to keep his ATP Finals hopes alive, after Rafael Jodar's opening win on Monday moved the Spaniard into the last qualifying spot.
Key points
- Novak Djokovic meets Basel champion Valentin Vacherot in the Paris first round on Tuesday.
- Djokovic needs at least a semi-final to stay in the race for the ATP Finals in Turin.
- Rafael Jodar beat Alejandro Tabilo to move into ninth place, now the last place for Turin.
Novak Djokovic begins what may be his last chance to reach this year’s ATP Finals on Tuesday, when he meets Basel champion Valentin Vacherot in the first round of the Paris Masters.
The 10th seed arrives in Paris 11th in the race to Turin with 2,900 points, and the arithmetic is unforgiving. A quarter-final would leave him short. He needs at least a semi-final to stay alive, and only the title would make his place certain. With Jannik Sinner out for the season with a knee injury, ninth place in the race is now the last ticket to Turin.
Vacherot is a dangerous opening draw. He won the Swiss Indoors in Basel on Sunday, beating Jiri Lehecka in the final, and went into last month’s Shanghai Masters as the defending champion. Djokovic was also in Basel, where he beat Ugo Humbert.
Jodar keeps his nerve
The pressure on the chasing pack grew on Monday. Rafael Jodar, the ninth seed, began the day one point behind Alex de Minaur and knew a loss would end his bid. He beat Alejandro Tabilo 6-2, 6-3, which takes him to 3,234 points, 24 ahead of de Minaur, who has a first-round bye. Jodar plays Casper Ruud next.
Monday also brought a ceremony on Court Central for Alexander Zverev, the new world No. 1, who has already qualified for Turin along with Carlos Alcaraz, Ben Shelton and Daniil Medvedev. The top eight seeds have byes into the second round.
Who else plays on Tuesday
Taylor Fritz, the 11th seed, sits five points behind Djokovic and faces Benjamin Bonzi, and he needs the same semi-final run. Tommy Paul, 12th in the race, opens against Holger Rune and must win the title. Also on Tuesday’s list are Stefanos Tsitsipas against Learner Tien, Lehecka against Alex Michelsen, and home favourite Quentin Halys against Britain’s Arthur Fery, who is playing his first Paris Masters main draw. Courts and start times for the day had not been confirmed by midnight in India.