Novak Djokovic’s impressive season continues to reach new heights as the ageless, indomitable Serbian is marching on to impressive victories and record-extending championship wins in tournaments around the world.
In the latest instance of his propensity to mount insane comebacks and damage an opponent’s will to dominate, Novak ensured that his victory against a fellow top-ten player resulted in his counterpart expressing rage and anger by destroying tennis equipment. The action and Djokovic’s reaction to it summarized the career Djokovic has had: let the world’s rage not disrupt your focus on your tennis game.
Rublev’s racket smash highlights Djokovic’s Paris Masters comeback
Novak Djokovic took center court on Saturday knowing two of his biggest opponents, Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune, were out of the fray. That didn’t let overconfidence drape the Serbian’s mindset as he battled to a three-hour-long three-set battle with Andrey Rublev.
The 24-time grand slam champion was immediately on the back foot the moment Rublev broke him in the opening set and when Rublev closed out the first set, Djokovic knew a tough challenge awaited him.
However, as he has done on numerous occasions before, Djokovic regrouped and mounted a spectacular comeback that saw him win the next two sets and eventually triumph 5-7, 7-6(3), 7-5.
The highlight of the match was the very last point of the match. Rublev’s faulty serve led to a burst of emotion from the Russian, and he smashed his racquet to pieces and turned to yell at his coaching box. Novak Djokovic was as composed as possible in his walk to the net and displayed no emotion.
All his emotions were saved for later on, as he soaked in the crowd’s cheering for him and celebrated in a typical, imitative style that has become ubiquitous with the Serbian nowadays. He progressed to the final, where he is set to play unseeded Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.
Djokovic’s will fight for seventh Paris Masters title
Novak Djokovic will play his 17th match at the Paris Masters, a new record in the tournament. He will also fight for his seventh Paris Masters, having come close last year in his final loss to Rune.
Novak Djokovic has won all nine major ATP tournaments, and a record seventh title in Paris will give the Serbian his 97th career singles title. He has won a record 69 titles (24 majors, a record 39 Masters, and a joint-record six ATP Finals).
In the Paris Masters, Novak won the 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019, and 2021 titles, besides appearing in the 2018 and 2022 finals. He has reached 50 wins this year, the 14th time he has achieved it. He also increased his winning streak to 17 matches and will play the 58th Majors final of his career.
“I deserve this considering the amount of effort and fight I have put in,” Djokovic said in his post-match interview after the semifinal.
What are your opinions on Novak Djokovic’s record-extending 2023 season? Will he lift the title in Paris? Let us know in the comments section below.
