Novak Djokovic maintained his Nitto ATP Finals qualification hopes at the Rolex Paris Masters, where he rallied from a set and a break down to defeat Valentin Vacherot.
The seven-time Paris champion was pushed hard by the Monegasque and overcame a mid-match shoulder issue to defeat the Basel champion 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 6-1.
Djokovic requires at least a semi-final run in Paris to give himself a chance of qualifying for the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin.
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Djokovic is 11th in the Race To Turin on 2,940 points but must finish inside the top nine to qualify. Rafael Jodar, still alive in Paris, is currently ninth on 3,234 points, 294 points clear of Djokovic.
Asked on Sky Sports how he was feeling physically, Djokovic, who next plays Australian Rinky Hijikata, said: “Not the freshest but obviously glad to turn this match around.
“A lot of players tell me it’s completely different conditions to what it was last year.
“It’s very slow and bouncy this year, just super, super quick, and Vacherot won his tournament title in Basel a few days ago, super confident and you could feel that in his game, particularly off that first serve. Not too many double faults, he’s going for his second serve as well.
“His third serve is quicker than my first so it’s very difficult to face someone like that. I should have taken that first set, just an awful volley at 5-4 and next thing you know you’re down a set and down a break.”
“I’m glad that I kind of found a way to turn this match around.”
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Djokovic and Vacherot traded blows in this epic 35-shot rally…
Sky Sports analyst Ryan Harrison
“Djokovic is so used to being seeded high and at least get himself into the draw without having to suffer through that first round. This is a physical match, and if he wants to go deep in the tournament, especially here in Paris because this is a shorter Masters tournament 1000. This isn’t one of those Masters tournaments where you have a day off between every match, so this is going to be a little tricker for him.”
Tale of the Tape
Fery’s moment of magic
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Arthur Fery pulled off this outrageous no-look tweener…
British No 1 Arthur Fery may have hit a career-high world No 32 and produced the shot of the match with a between-the-legs drop-shot winner, but he was ultimately taken out by home favourite Quentin Halys 7-6 (8-6) 7-5.
Fery was unable to take two set points in the first-set tie-break with big-serving Frenchman Halys claiming the only break of serve in the second for victory.
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Highlights of the Rolex Paris Masters match between Ben Shelton and Cameron Norrie
British No 2 Cameron Norrie also made an early exit, as he was swept aside 6-3 6-4 by US Open finalist Ben Shelton.
Shelton, who has captured four tour-level titles, including his second ATP Masters 1000 crown in Canada and reached a maiden Grand Slam final at the US Open this year, announced that he will add Alcaraz’s former mentor Juan Carlos Ferrero to his team in 2027.
“Juan Carlos is one of the great minds in tennis,” Shelton said.
“His experience of winning at the highest level and developing champions will be a huge asset to our team.”
Ferrero said: “Ben has extraordinary talent, power and character. I’m looking forward to contributing my experience and working together with everyone to help Ben achieve his ambitions.”
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Shelton shares his aims with help of Carlos Alcaraz’s former mentor Juan Carlos Ferrero
Taylor Fritz rallied from a set down to defeat French qualifier Benjamin Bonzi 3-6 6-3 6-4 to reach the second round where he faces another qualifier, Alex Molcan.
Tommy Paul, currently 13th in the Race To Turin on 2,775 points, beat Holger Rune 7-5 6-4.
Cobolli suffers Paris blow
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Italy’s Flavio Cobolli has withdrawn from the Rolex Paris Masters
Flavio Cobolli has announced his withdrawal from the Masters 1000 event on social media.
“I was really hoping I could make it,” Cobolli wrote in his Instagram Stories. “Today, after media day, I tried training in the gym, but I’m still feeling some discomfort and I don’t want to take any risks. So I’ve decided to withdraw from Paris.
“This one really hurts. This city gave me the two biggest weeks of my career this year, and playing here again would have meant a lot. Now it’s all about recovering. Thank you for always being there.”
Despite his withdrawal from the ATP Masters 1000 event in Paris, Cobolli remains in contention to make his Nitto ATP Finals debut.
The Italian is currently sixth in the Race To Turin, 466 points ahead of ninth-placed Rafael Jodar, who is effectively in the final qualification spot.
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Watch the best of Cobolli when he faced Rafael Jodar at the Cincinnati Open
Burrage wilts in Chennai heat
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Jodie Burrage suffered a gruelling first-round loss in India
Britain’s Jodie Burrage suffered a first-round loss in a gruelling encounter at the Chennai Open on Tuesday.
Taking on local wild card Vaishnavi Adkar, Britain’s Burrage looked poised for victory when she led 5-3 in the deciding set but she lost four games in a row to fall to a 3-6 6-3 7-5 defeat after two hours and 47 minutes.
Burrage, who has not won a tour-level match since Eastbourne last summer, appeared to struggle with the humid conditions and called the doctor with her opponent about to serve for the match.
Brits on a high
For the first time since 1978, there are four British women and four British men ranked inside the world’s top 100 in the same week ✨
Katie Boulter
Sonay Kartal
Harriet Dart
Fran Jones
Arthur Fery
Cameron Norrie
Jacob Fearnley
Toby Samuel
Burrage was visibly shaking and had her blood pressure and oxygen levels checked as well as ice rubbed on her arms and legs. She was able to resume the contest but lost the final game to love.
Stream tennis with no contract on NOW and the Sky Sports App. You can watch the ATP Paris Masters live on Sky Sports this week.