Djokovic Fights Past Vacherot in Three Sets at Paris Masters

Can Novak Djokovic still win a ninety-minute scrap against a fearless big server? The 10th seed beat Valentin Vacherot 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-1 to reach the second round of the Paris Masters. Vacherot had won the Swiss Indoors on Sunday and famously beat Djokovic in last year's Shanghai Masters semifinals. It was tense.

Serving at 4-4 in the second set, Djokovic saved three break points, then broke to level the match and broke again to open the decider. He closed out on his second match point. Djokovic said the courts were like ice, a sign of how tricky the conditions were for both players.

He is chasing a 103rd career title, which would tie Roger Federer for second in the Open era behind Jimmy Connors on 109. Djokovic currently sits 11th in the ATP Finals race, with the Finals running from 15 to 22 November. Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul also advanced on Tuesday in Paris.