Novak Djokovic got away to a gruelling start at his most successful Masters 1000 event on Tuesday, with the seven-time champion outlasting Valentin Vacherot  6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-1 to reach the second round in Paris.

The seven-time champion at the elite indoor event gets the Serb off and running in his effort to squeeze into a qualifying spot at the ATP Finals starting in Turin on November 15.

The winner of 24 Grand Slam singles titles had to fight back after trailing last weekend’s Basel champion a set and a break

But the 39-year-old slowly reeled in the Monegasque, whose game evaporated in the third set.

“I expected a match like this, there were very few opportunities for me to break him,” the winner said of the two-and-a-half-hour battle.

“He has a huge serve, in the first set and a half it was difficult to read. Even if i guess right, it is coming at some speed. It’s hard to play someone like that.

“He gives you no chances and puts a lot of pressure on my service games.”

Both players were seen by the trainer in the second set as Djokovic began his fightback by taking a massage on his right shoulder; vacherot was treated and taped on his left ankle but showed no further ill effects.

Djokovic lifted his level as he broke back for 2-all and levelled the match with a break to wrap up the set.

In the third, the veteran dominated with two more breaks as he secured victory with a backhand down-the-line winner.

He next faces Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata after fighting off 22 aces from Vacherot, who converted on only one of seven break chances.

Djokovic improved to 51-9 at the Paris Masters and strengthened  his bid for a Turin spot, where he currently stands provisional 10th for the eight man field.

“It was not a bad performance for an old guy,” Djokovic said. “Somehow I find a way to win matches that go the distance.

“I’m giving it whatever I can. I’m trying to find the way to play my best level when it matters.”

Main photo:-Novak Djokovic won Paris Masters in 2023 – by Roger Parker ISF Ltd

Novak Djokovic is setting the stage for a dream eighth title at the Paris Masters, with the 24-time Grand Slam winner still counting on the four majors to motivate him at age 39.

The Serb who is now striving to find a place in the ATP Finals for November 15 in Turin, has it all to play for this week at the La Defense arena to the far west of the capital.

He won his last title here in 2023 when the event was still played at its historic home in the Bercy neighborhood in the east.

He won a 500-level title last month in Beijing but crashed out early last week in Basel after winning a round.

Still, the fighting spirit in the veteran remains a driving force.

“Grand Slams remain the most important tournaments we have. They are the historic pillars of our sport, where you want to play your best tennis and make your name known in the history books of tennis.

“I still want to do my best in slams, but I also would like to play well in other
tournaments.”

He explained his current thinking. “This year the focus shifted to feeling well on the court rather than playing well, to be honest. Most of the tournaments that I played, I didn’t play many. Health-wise, a big struggle. 

“I struggled a lot, but lately we’re really getting closer to solving what I have been going through in the last 12 months.”

Djokovic called his Beijing title “the best week of the year, other than Australia, and I thought I played pretty well in Basel.

“That was a tight match to lose, but yeah but I’m just trying to enjoy the last couple weeks of the season. Then the performance will come. Yeah, we’ll see after that.”

Main photo:-Paris Rolex Paris Masters 2023 Novak Djokovic wins final by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd

Valentin Vacherot all but matched Taylor Fritz in a serving showdown, with the Monegasque reaching the final of the Swiss Indoors on Saturday 7-6 (5), 6-3.

Big-hitting Californian Fritz threw down 11 aces in defeat but was nearly matched by the 10 off the Vacheron racquet.

Vacherot, who broke through a year ago with a title win at the Shanghai Masters, is seeking his first trophy since that triumph.

Defeat dented the Fritz hopes of reaching the eight-man ATP Finals, with the American standing provisional 12th with it all to play for next week at the Paris Masters.

Victory by Vacherot gave a helping hand into the record books for 20-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar.

The youngster will debut in the ranking top 10 on Monday,  marking the fastest rise between an ATP debut match (2026 Australian Open) to the top 10. The quick-fire 287-day span demolished the previous mark held by Brazil’s Gustavo Kuerten of 490 days two and a half decades ago.

Vacherot matched Fritz in their semi-final struggle, coming back from 4-1 down in the opening-set tiebreaker, lifting the set on his first opportunity after winning six of seven points.

The European  continued to hold the momentum as he broke at 4-3 in the second, enough to see him through into the final after 86 minutes.

“You just have to pray on the returns because Taylor is one of the best servers on Tour,” he said. “His spots are just amazing. 

“Sometimes you can anticipate it (the serve), but you cannot even touch it.

“I am just super happy I got that break at 4-3 in the second set. I guessed well and executed it well.”