Novak Djokovic defeated Valentin Vacherot 6-7, 7-5, 6-1, in the first round of the Paris Masters.
In doing so, the 39-year-old Serb became the oldest player to win a match at the Paris Masters. Djokovic did it the hard way, though, battling back from a set down against Vacherot, a man 12 years his junior.
After the match, Djokovic delivered his verdict on the comeback, and hit back at critics who question his ability to win longer matches as he nears his 40th birthday.
Novak Djokovic says he can still ‘find a way’ to win long matches as critics call him old
“For an old guy, not so bad! People think I am too old and slow, but somehow I find a way to win these kinds of matches that go the distance. I am still there, and I am still holding on and trying to find my best tennis when it matters,” said Djokovic.
Which ATP player do you think will win the 2026 Paris Masters title?
“I expected a match like this to be honest, with very few opportunities to break, especially for me. He has a tremendous serve. It is huge, both first and second, and for a set and a half I had a very difficult time reading his serve. Even if I guessed right, it was coming at some speed, so it was really hard to play someone like that. He does not give you many opportunities at all for the entire match and then puts pressure on your service game.
Novak Djokovic vs Valentin Vacherot – Match stats
| Stats | Novak Djokovic | Valentin Vacherot |
| Performance rating | 8.7 | 7.9 |
| Serve quality | 8.1 | 9.3 |
| Aces | 6 | 22 |
| Double faults | 3 | 3 |
| Unreturned serve % | 27% | 37% |
| First serve % | 73% | 67% |
| First serve points won % | 72% | 73% |
| Second serve points won % | 57% | 34% |
| Average second serve speed | 164 km/h | 185 km/h |
| Return quality | 7.6 | 7.4 |
| Break points won | 4/9 | 1/7 |
| Forehand winners | 13 | 15 |
| Backhand winners | 8 | 8 |
| Forehand unforced errors | 13 | 24 |
| Backhand unforced errors | 10 | 24 |
“I had the first tiebreak and missed that incredibly easy forehand volley. I don’t know what happened, I had a brain freeze and next thing you know I was down a set and a break. He played one sloppy game to give me the break at 2-1 in the second, and I was back in the match. From then on, I felt I had more looks in his service games, but it was also very tiring physically. Lots of long rallies.”
Vacherot served excellently against Djokovic, hitting a season-high 22 aces, but the Serb worked hard to remain in rallies. A 7.6 ‘Return Quality’ guided Djokovic to a much-needed victory in his bid to qualify for the ATP Finals.
Djokovic needs to make a deep run in Paris to qualify for Turin, and would have been eliminated from contention with a defeat to Vacherot. He currently sits 11th in the ‘Live ATP Race to Turin’ (9th place qualifies due to Jannik Sinner’s injury).
Race for the last ATP Finals qualification spots
- 1. Alexander Zverev – 9,350 points (Qualified)
- 2. Jannik Sinner – 7,950 points (Won’t play)
- 3. Carlos Alcaraz – 5,110 points (Qualified)
- 4. Ben Shelton – 4,530 points (Qualified)
- 5. Daniil Medvedev – 3,820 points (Qualified)
- 6. Flavio Cobolli – 3,680 points (Qualifying)
- 7. Arthur Fils – 3,535 points (Qualifying)
- 8. Frances Tiafoe – 3,390 points (Qualifying)
- 9. Rafael Jodar – 3,234 points (Qualifying)
- 10. Alex de Minaur – 3,170 points (Not qualifying)
- 11. Novak Djokovic – 2,940 points (Not qualifying)
Speaking to Sky Sports after his first-round win, Djokovic provided a brief fitness update. The 39-year-old knows he will need to recover fast before his next match if he is to book his place in the year-end finals.
“Not the freshest after two and a half hours, but glad to turn this match around. I had not played here last year but a lot of players tell me it is completely different conditions to how it played last year. It is very slow and bouncy this year, compared to super quick. Vacherot won his tournament in Basel and is super confident; you could feel that off his first serve and second as well. Not too many double faults; he is going for his second,” he said.
“His third serve is quicker than my first, so it’s difficult to face someone like that. It puts a lot of pressure on your service game, and you try to find a way. I should have taken that first set tiebreak; just an awful volley at 5-4 from me, and then next thing you know, you are down a set and a break. I am glad I found a way to turn this match around.”
Ryan Harrison reacts to Novak Djokovic’s win over Valentin Vacherot
Former doubles star Ryan Harrison was also keen to share his thoughts on Djokovic’s first-round win, during Sky Sports’ post-match coverage.
“I think whenever you are tested like that you start off the match a lot better in round two because he is going to be more used to everything. You saw here in set one, 14 aces for Vacherot,” said Harrison.
“He doesn’t start serving much worse, but Novak is getting used to it and reading the toss, and he started getting better and better on the return and got better throughout the match.”
Djokovic wasn’t at his best against Vacherot, but didn’t need to be, and will return to take on Australia’s Rinky Hijikata in the second round on Wednesday, November 4.
