Djokovic beats Vacherot 6-7, 7-5, 6-1 in Paris to keep ATP Finals hopes alive

Novak Djokovic beat Valentin Vacherot 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-1 at the Rolex Paris Masters on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, coming back from a set and a break down to keep his hopes of reaching the ATP Finals in Turin alive, the ATP Tour reported. The match on Court Central lasted 2 hours 36 minutes and ended the Monegasque's five-match winning streak as the reigning Basel champion.

How the match turned

• First set to Vacherot: Djokovic, 39, saved three set points at 5-6 with big first serves to force a tie-break, then missed a forehand volley at 5/4 up. Vacherot took the breaker 7/5.
• Break down in the second: Vacherot broke in the opening game of the second set with a backhand winner down the line. Djokovic took a medical timeout for a shoulder problem at 1-2, broke back for 2-2, and levelled the match after Vacherot needed treatment on his ankle at 3-4.
• Third set rout: Djokovic moved Vacherot side to side and ran away with it 6-1, despite the world No. 27 hitting 22 aces in the match.

"For a set and a half, I had difficulty reading his serve," Djokovic said on court. "I am still there, still hanging on and still giving it whatever I can."

Their head-to-head is now 1-1: Vacherot beat Djokovic on his way to the Shanghai Masters title in 2025.

The race to Turin

Djokovic is 11th in the Live Race on 2,940 points and must finish in the top nine to make his 17th ATP Finals. Spain's Rafael Jodar, still in the Paris draw, is ninth on 3,234, 294 points ahead. According to the ATP, Djokovic needs at least a semi-final in Paris to give himself a chance. He plays Australia's Rinky Hijikata in the second round, with Alex de Minaur, 10th in the race, a possible third-round opponent.

The ATP Finals start in Turin later this month. Matches in Paris usually start from late afternoon Pakistan time, as France is four hours behind PKT.

Other results in Paris on Tuesday

• Tommy Paul beat Holger Rune 7-5, 6-4 (Paul is 13th in the race on 2,775 points).
• Matteo Berrettini beat Brandon Nakashima 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(8), saving two match points.
• Learner Tien beat Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 6-3, 5-7, 7-5.
• Nuno Borges, a lucky loser, beat Moise Kouame 6-3, 6-1 and plays 2018 champion Karen Khachanov next.
• Quentin Halys beat Arthur Fery 7-6(6), 7-5.

For more tennis, see our story on Djokovic's Shanghai Masters exit. Paying for a dollar-priced tennis stream? The currency converter shows the rupee cost.