ATP Tour

Djokovic battles past Vacherot in Paris, maintains Turin hopes

Novak Djokovic kept alive his Nitto ATP Finals qualification hopes on Tuesday at the Rolex Paris Masters, where he rallied from a set and a break down to end Valentin Vacherot’s five-match winning streak.

The record seven-time Paris champion Djokovic was pushed hard by the Monegasque star and overcame a mid-match shoulder issue to move past the Basel champion 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-1.

"I expected a match like this to be honest, with very few opportunities to break for me," Djokovic said in his on-court interview. "He has a tremendous serve. It is huge, both first and second. For a set and a half, I had difficulty reading his serve and even if I guessed right, it was coming with some speed. It is hard to play someone like that, doesn't give you many opportunities and puts additional pressure on your service games.

"The third set was really good but very tiring physically, a lot of long rallies... I am still there, still hanging on and still giving it whatever I can, trying to find my best level when it matters."

Djokovic is 11th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin on 2,940 points. The Serbian is trying to make his 17th appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals later this month but must finish inside the top nine in the Live Race to qualify. Rafael Jodar, still alive in Paris, is currently ninth in the Live Race on 3,234 points, 294 points clear of Djokovic.

Djokovic requires at least a semi-final run in Paris to give himself a chance of qualifying, and will next meet Australian Rinky Hijikata at the indoor hard-court event in the second round. Alex de Minaur, currently 10th in the Live Race, is a potential third-round opponent for Djokovic.

View the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin standings

In a tight first set on Court Central, Vacherot had the first big opportunity at 5-6, when he conjured up three set points on the Djokovic serve. However, the 39-year-old found first serves to battle out of trouble and force a tie-break. Vacherot was initially erratic in the breaker, showing impatience in the rallies and making unforced errors that allowed Djokovic to take control.

But the Serbian handed Vacherot a lifeline with a missed forehand volley at the net when leading 5/4. The Monegasque seized the opportunity, moving to set point at 6/5 with a well-placed backhand volley before clinching the opener when Djokovic sent a backhand return long.

Vacherot claimed further control at the start of the second set when he broke Djokovic’s serve in the first game with a backhand winner down the line. However, Djokovic, who received a medical timeout for a shoulder issue at 1-2 in the second set, broke back for 2-2 when Vacherot left a ball that caught the back of the baseline.

Vacherot received a medical timeout himself for an ankle issue at 3-4 in the second set and slightly struggled with his movement in the closing stages of the set, with Djokovic capitalising to level. Vacherot struck 22 aces in the match, but the former World No. 1 Djokovic went into lockdown mode in an impressive deciding set, moving the World No. 27 from side to side to pull clear and advance after two hours and 36 minutes. Djokovic is now level at 1-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Vacherot, who beat the Serbian en route to the ATP Masters 1000 title in Shanghai last year.

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In earlier action in Paris, Portuguese lucky loser Nuno Borges downed #NextGenATP Frenchman Moise Kouame 6-3, 6-1 to record his first victory at the indoor hard-court event. Borges will next face 2018 champion Karen Khachanov.

Tommy Paul, currently 13th in the Live Race on 2,775 points, beat Holger Rune 7-5, 6-4. Matteo Berrettini battled past Brandon Nakashima 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(8), saving two match points. American Learner Tien also advanced, defeating Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, while Frenchman Quentin Halys beat Briton Arthur Fery 7-6(6), 7-5.