PARIS – Novak Djokovic put the disappointment of missing out on a rare calendar Grand Slam behind him as he won a record sixth Paris Masters title.
The Serbian’s bid to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win all four majors in the same year was ended by Daniil Medvedev in September’s US Open final, and he avenged that defeat by beating the Russian 4-6 6-3 6-3 in Paris.
The triumph secured Djokovic a record 37th Masters title, capping a successful week in which the 34-year-old had also made sure he would finish the year as world number one for a record seventh time.
“I already closed that (New York) chapter, to be honest. I’m not regretting it, really. I’m not spending days suffering because I didn’t take the calendar slam this year,” Djokovic told a news conference.
“I’m very relieved that the calendar, that the Grand Slam season was done, because I felt a tremendous pressure unlike anything I felt in my life.
“So it was an interesting experience, and I’m very satisfied with the way I played in Grand Slams, three wins and a final. I mean, there is much more positive things to be grateful for and to look at than negative,” he added according to Reuters.
Djokovic remained unflappable despite losing the opening set as he set another record. “I have always been honest enough to say that the history of our sport is too big a motivation,” he said.
“It is an objective, yes, to prove that I can break all the records with all the results that I can obtain on the tour professionally.
“So, yes, I love breaking records. I’m very motivated to carry on. My priority is the Grand Slams and Masters 1000 where you can gain the largest number of points. This is an added benefit of our sport.”
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.
“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.
