Djokovic first man to ever defend Paris Masters title

[SpicyCurry1990]

47 Years this tournament has been around, since the dawn of the open era. Numerous world #1s have been the champion, but no one has ever defended the title here...until now!

Djokovic also ties the record for most titles here (with 3) as well, joining Safin and his coach.

 

[NatF]

Djokovic is a great great indoors player.

 

[JRAJ1988]

He's one of the best Indoor players in the Open Era.

Federer is the best, though Becker was awesome.

 

[ark_28]

He's one of the best Indoor players in the Open Era.

Federer is the best, though Becker was awesome.

Pete wasn't too shabby either to be fair

 

[JRAJ1988]

Pete wasn't too shabby either to be fair

This is very true!!!

 

[veroniquem]

Walking into his coach's steps. Just like Becker, indoor master all the way.

 

[Chico]

Nice. Didn't realize this.

 

[90's Clay]

Not too difficult when you factor in how horrible players are indoors these days.


Nole wouldn't manage even 1 indoor title in eras past when guys were actually good indoors.

Fed isn't good indoors anymore, Newer generation of guys aren't good at tennis PERIOD now.. And Nadal (Who isn't very good indoors historically) is probably Nole's best competition indoors.


ROFLMAO. That tells me all I need to know.

Nole would get SMOKED indoors by Sampras or Becker. And would probably struggle with Agassi as well as Andre would just take the ball early and run Nole from side to side.

 

[Chico]

Not too difficult when you factor in how horrible players are indoors these days.


Nole wouldn't manage even 1 indoor title in eras past when guys were actually good indoors.

Fed isn't good indoors anymore, Newer generation of guys aren't good at tennis PERIOD now.. And Nadal (Who isn't very good indoors historically) is probably Nole's best competition indoors.


ROFLMAO. That tells me all I need to know.

Nole would get SMOKED indoors by Sampras or Becker. And would probably struggle with Agassi as well as Andre would just take the ball early and run Nole from side to side.

Definitely Yevgeny. No doubt about it.

 

[tennisaddict]

Surprise of the year for me is Rafa winning only 1 master.

Without Rafa, the field looks dead at this time.

4 more masters for Novak in 2014. Great performance. Wonder why it doesnt get translated to majors where he struggled to get one.

 

[90's Clay]

Definitely Yevgeny. No doubt about it.

Yea He may even struggle with Kafelnikov. Who as at least twice the player RaoCrap is.

 

[veroniquem]

Surprise of the year for me is Rafa winning only 1 master.

Without Rafa, the field looks dead at this time.

.

Rafa dominating indoor season would be a long shot anyway. Better for him to take time off now and be ready for AO where his chances will be much higher.

 

[90's Clay]

Surprise of the year for me is Rafa winning only 1 master.

Without Rafa, the field looks dead at this time.

4 more masters for Novak in 2014. Great performance. Wonder why it doesnt get translated to majors where he struggled to get one.

Without Rafa its barely watchable anymore.

 

[Chico]

Yea He may even struggle with Kafelnikov. Who as at least twice the player RaoCrap is.

How about Lopez?

 

[Djokovic2011]

Without Rafa its barely watchable anymore.

You sound grouchy 90's Clay. I thought you'd be pleased that Novak won? :?

 

[tennisaddict]

You sound grouchy 90's Clay. I thought you'd be pleased that Novak won? :?

5 straight sets drubbing without breaking a sweat is not good for the neutral tennis fan.

 

[90's Clay]

You sound grouchy 90's Clay. I thought you'd be pleased that Novak won? :?

Pleased with Nole. But lets face it, he wouldn't stand a chance indoors in eras past and I don't like it when people start to compare defensive baseliners to great attacking TRUE Indoor tennis before.

Nole has done so well indoors because there isn't much of a field indoors. Fed hasn't been a great indoor player since probably 2010.

 

[Djokovic2011]

5 straight sets drubbing without breaking a sweat is not good for the neutral tennis fan.

It is good for the Sampras fans who detest Federer and don't want him to finish as YE#1. :wink:

 

[tennisaddict]

It is good for the Sampras fans who detest Federer and don't want him to finish as YE#1. :wink:

Fed winning would have been the worst outcome. They would want all of Fed /Rafa/Novak to lose early.

You can imagine the horror if Novak goes on a rampage next year and gets close to 11-12 majors.

 

[LazyNinja19]

Impressive accomplishment. Congrats

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Djokovic stands tall.

Can he now be the first man to win three WTF in a row?

 

[veroniquem]

Djokovic stands tall.

Can he now be the first man to win three WTF in a row?

That would be a first? Wow
One match at a time though. We already know he'll get the worst possible RR group, don't we? :-?

 

[Deleted member 77403]

That would be a first? Wow
One match at a time though. We already know he'll get the worst possible RR group, don't we? :-?

I think he will do it. He looks very calm, composed out there, and he has made the WTF his personal playing ground in recent years. It would be a great accomplishment for sure, considering the legends how have won this title multiple times in the past. Even Roger, the greatest WTF champion of all time, never won more than two in a row. So, something special to motivate Novak when he heads back to London

 

[SpicyCurry1990]

That would be a first? Wow
One match at a time though. We already know he'll get the worst possible RR group, don't we? :-?

Eh not too concerned about WTF groups honestly. Its not like a normal tournament where one side can be joke draws and the other a killer because its all elite players there.

The draws will be:

Wawrinka or Nishikori
Murray or Berdych
Raonic or Cilic

I guess the worst draw would probably be Nishikori, Murray, Raonic? That doesn't sound much worse than Wawrinka, Berdych, Cilic.

Would be nice to avoid having Murray in his draw for the 4th straight tournament though ha.

 

[rainingaces]

Impressive stat op. Djokovic isn't done yet he has a good chance to break the masters record and win more paris masters in a row.

Djokovic is the best returner of all time, agassi can't hold a candle to him.

 

[veroniquem]

Hitman: Well, I hope so. 2 consecutive seasons of winning Paris/WTF back to back would be incredible.

 

[Chico]

Hitman: Well, I hope so. 2 consecutive seasons of winning Paris/WTF back to back would be incredible.

And three WTFs in a row

 

[veroniquem]

Eh not too concerned about WTF groups honestly. Its not like a normal tournament where one side can be joke draws and the other a killer because its all elite players there.

The draws will be:

Wawrinka or Nishikori
Murray or Berdych
Raonic or Cilic

I guess the worst draw would probably be Nishikori, Murray, Raonic? That doesn't sound much worse than Wawrinka, Berdych, Cilic.

Would be nice to avoid having Murray in his draw for the 4th straight tournament though ha.

Yeah this year is less clear than usual. Although Wawa has done nothing recently, he's not a good matchup for Djoko in general. So, in essence, you are right, it's mostly a "not Murray again!!" worst case scenario. I know Djoko has overcome him every time this year. I still think Berd would be an easier opponent. (Cilic has also shown poor form this fall)

 

[veroniquem]

And three WTFs in a row

Even more amazing

 

[mike danny]

Pleased with Nole. But lets face it, he wouldn't stand a chance indoors in eras past and I don't like it when people start to compare defensive baseliners to great attacking TRUE Indoor tennis before.

Nole has done so well indoors because there isn't much of a field indoors. Fed hasn't been a great indoor player since probably 2010.

So 2011 with Basel,Paris and WTF sweeping never happened?

 

[mike danny]

Even more amazing

Now I am really wondering if he will beat Fed's WTF record.

It seems like in the last 3 years, regardless of his form through the season he always plays exceptionally well in the indoor season. He is only 27. Can he keep winning the WTF untill 2016, to reach 6 WTF, which is Fed's record? Only time will tell

 

[NatF]

Now I am really wondering if he will beat Fed's WTF record.

It seems like in the last 3 years, regardless of his form through the season he always plays exceptionally well in the indoor season. He is only 27. Can he keep winning the WTF untill 2016, to reach 6 WTF, which is Fed's record? Only time will tell

I think he might well break it. But only if he gets it this year.

 

[Carsomyr]

Djokovic stands tall.

Can he now be the first man to win three WTF in a row?

That would be a pretty amazing achievement, and he looks primed to do so. He rolled through everyone in Paris, and with Fed possibly wear down after a long season, he may sleepwalk through the tournament.

 

[Maximagq]

I am so proud of Nole. He truly deserves the YE #1 title.

 

[mike danny]

I think he might well break it. But only if he gets it this year.

I agree he needs to win it this year. Federer at Djokovic's current age had 4 WTF titles. He ended up with six 3 years later (so far)

So Djokovic needs to win it this year to catch up

 

[Mainad]

That would be a first? Wow
One match at a time though. We already know he'll get the worst possible RR group, don't we? :-?

Lol..what could constitute the worst possible RR group for him? Federer, the only player who has beaten him more than once this year and therefore the only real threat to him, will head the other group as #2 seed so they can't meet until the final. In his own group, there is no other single player he hasn't beaten at least once this year and the vast majority on multiple occasions. Which possible players in his group have shown themselves to be a consistent and likely threat to him on current performance?

The reality is that Djokovic is so much better than anybody else right now. The only realistic challenger is Federer who is the appropriately ranked #2 seed!

 

[abmk]

^^

agreed. the only threat to an in-form nole indoors is an in-form federer right now ....

 

[veroniquem]

I am so proud of Nole. He truly deserves the YE #1 title.

He sure does!

 

[Pocalypse]

Hopefully he wins it next year as well, he needs some records of his own and not just to tie records with others considering he is a great champion.

 

[veroniquem]

Hopefully he wins it next year as well, he needs some records of his own and not just to tie records with others considering he is a great champion.

Well, he already has a record of his own: 8 of the super 9 won (vs 7 for Fedal)

 

[veroniquem]

He also has the record at Paris master with 3 victories (tied with Safin)


Let me add he has now the most indoor master titles among active players with 3 (Fed has 2, Nadal 1, Murray 1)

 

[Djokovic2011]

He also has the record at Paris master with 3 victories (tied with Safin)


Let me add he has now the most indoor master titles among active players with 3 (Fed has 2, Nadal 1, Murray 1)

Which indoor Masters did Murray win vero? Was it when Madrid was still played indoors?

 

[insideguy]

If and when Novak passes Rafa for weeks at #1 I wonder what that will mean as far as both their legacies. I dont know what weeks at number #1 means in the big picture but I think it is important.

 

[veroniquem]

He's also the only player with Nadal to have won 5 out of the 9 masters 3 times or more.

Nadal: M-C, Rome, 3rd clay, IW and Canada
Djoko: Miami, IW, Rome, Canada and Paris.

The versatily award goes to Djoko since he's done it on 3 different surfaces and has won 8 out of the 9.

 

[veroniquem]

Which indoor Masters did Murray win vero? Was it when Madrid was still played indoors?

Yes it is. He won Madrid indoor in 2008. Fed won Paris in 2011 + Madrid indoor in 2006 and Nadal Madrid indoor 2005.

 

[SpicyCurry1990]

Yeah this year is less clear than usual. Although Wawa has done nothing recently, he's not a good matchup for Djoko in general. So, in essence, you are right, it's mostly a "not Murray again!!" worst case scenario. I know Djoko has overcome him every time this year. I still think Berd would be an easier opponent. (Cilic has also shown poor form this fall)

I agree Berdy would be the easier opponent over Murray, but the WTF also has a way of balancing itself as well. The harder group usually means the easier SF (assuming you win the group) so if Nole gets Murray in his group that means Fed would be the one who has to face him in the SF. The alternative of course is the harder group results in a loss that seeds you #2 in the group and have to play the other top 2 seed in the SF, but thats a player you would theoretically have to beat to win the title anyways (just in the finals).

But ya I think this year definitely has even more parity with Nadal not around, but I also just mean in general the WTF is the tournament with the least draw dependency.

 

[veroniquem]

I agree Berdy would be the easier opponent over Murray, but the WTF also has a way of balancing itself as well. The harder group usually means the easier SF (assuming you win the group) so if Nole gets Murray in his group that means Fed would be the one who has to face him in the SF. The alternative of course is the harder group results in a loss that seeds you #2 in the group and have to play the other top 2 seed in the SF, but thats a player you would theoretically have to beat to win the title anyways (just in the finals).

But ya I think this year definitely has even more parity with Nadal not around, but I also just mean in general the WTF is the tournament with the least draw dependency.

To me, there is no validity in the argument that tougher players can be a better option in RR than in semi because losing in RR can prevent you from qualifying for semi. And there is no angle from which losing in RR is preferable to losing in semi. + you can have more than 1 really tough opponent in RR, in semi you're guaranteed to have only 1 of them. So I'd definitely want the easier RR group possible for my favorite player, which this year is not as obvious as it has sometimes been but indoor, I think I would want to avoid Raonic and Murray. Raonic's 1st serve % could be much higher than it was in the Paris final (my impression is that he was nervous because it was a master final) and then he's a pain. Murray is starting to improve his form and he almost won 1st set against Djoko in Paris. I feel Berd and Nishi will be easier to handle but I woud agree that the difference is not huge (like it can be when players like Ferrer/Gasquet are part of the equation). This year, it is all players (outside of Fed/Djoko) that are a bit unpredictable but can really bring the goods on any given day, except for maybe Berd who's never really shone at WTF.