Rolex Paris Masters: two days after his title, Valentin Vacherot falls in the first round

Recent winner of his second ATP title in Basel, Valentin Vacherot arrived in Paris full of confidence for the last major event of the year: the Rolex Paris Masters. But the Monégasque, who had a quarterfinal to defend, was not spared by the draw, facing a big fish in the first round: Novak Djokovic.

Facing Novak Djokovic right from the start, the match seemed complicated for the Monégasque, but not impossible. In their only previous confrontation, at the Shanghai Masters 1000 2025, it was Valentin Vacherot who prevailed in 2 sets.

In this new matchup, it was the Serb, resilient and despite losing the first set, who prevailed and advanced to the Round of 16.

In a first set that was very tight, neither player gave up his service, despite three break points (and set points) in Vacherot’s favor at 6 games to 5. The Monégasque ultimately won the tiebreak after nearly an hour of play. With 14 aces and 19 winners, he already had one foot in the next round of the Paris Masters 1000. But that was without counting on the reaction of the former world number 1.

Broken at the start of the second set, Novak Djokovic was quick to react. The Serb gradually managed to regain control of the rallies and turn the tide to ultimately win 7 games to 5. A particularly contested set, in which he won only four more points than his opponent. More solid in his game, slightly less prone to unforced errors and especially more consistent in the rallies, Djokovic managed to make the difference in the important moments.

In this third set, Valentin Vacherot struggled to find his rhythm and gave away many points. In difficulty in the rallies, the Monégasque gradually lost his footing. Broken at the start of the set, then a second time midway through, he never managed to reverse the momentum. With only 8 winners for 19 unforced errors, his record was insufficient to hope to compete with a Novak Djokovic determined to secure his place in the Final 8 of the Turin Masters.

For the rest and end of the 2026 season, Valentin Vacherot could potentially participate in the last ATP tournament, the 250 in Stockholm, next week. As for Novak Djokovic, he will face Rinky Hijikata in the Round of 16, to try to secure his place among the top 8 to compete in the Masters. Currently 11th, the Serb is still in contention, particularly after the early elimination of Rafael Jodar.