At 39, Djokovic turns back the clock — and Vacherot — in Paris

The oldest winner in Paris history keeps going

Novak Djokovic is still finding a way. At 39, the seven-time champion came from a set down to beat Valentin Vacherot 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 6-1 in the first round of the Rolex Paris Masters on Tuesday 3 November 2026 at the Plenitude Arena in Nanterre, becoming the oldest match winner in the tournament's history.

It was not comfortable. Vacherot arrived fresh from winning the Swiss Indoors in Basel, full of confidence and armed with one of the biggest serves in the game. He had also beaten Djokovic on his way to the Shanghai Masters title last season, in the pair's only previous meeting, so this was revenge as well as survival.

Djokovic needed two hours and 35 minutes to earn it. For much of that time the match looked like it might slip away. Instead, he produced the late, stubborn tennis that has defined his career, turning a match he was losing into a rout by the end. It was his first win at an ATP 1000 event since he reached the fourth round at Indian Wells in March, and his first match in Paris since he beat Grigor Dimitrov for a seventh title in 2023.

The turning point came at 4-4 in the second set

Vacherot took the opening set in a tie-break, reeling off the last four points after Djokovic missed a forehand volley at 5-4 in the breaker. He then broke early in the second set, and Djokovic called a medical timeout for treatment to his right shoulder.

That pause changed the match. Vacherot dropped serve straight away, after misjudging a Djokovic return that landed on the baseline. The decisive moment arrived with Djokovic serving at a set down and 4-4. He saved three break points to stop Vacherot serving for the match, holding firm while the Paris crowd chanted "Nole! Nole!"

From there, Djokovic took control. He broke in the 12th game to level the match, then ran away with the decider with early breaks, closing it out with a backhand winner down the line. The contest featured a combined 72 winners and 22 aces from Vacherot, who still could not hold off the veteran once the third set began.

"I knew that coming into the court it was going to be a very tight match," Djokovic said. "He's very confident, and he's one of the best servers we have in the game." He had struggled to read that serve for a set and a half, facing deliveries at up to 250 kilometres per hour, before his first break of the second set gave him traction.

"For an old guy, not so bad"

Djokovic could not resist a joke at the expense of those who have suggested his time at the top is over. "For an old guy, not so bad, huh?!" he said on court. "People think I am too old and slow, but somehow I find a way to win these kinds of matches that go the distance. I am still there, and I am still holding on and trying to find my best tennis when it matters."

"I found a good groove in the end," he added. "I'm pleased about that, and I think it's the energy created in the stadium -- that's what this year's victory is all about."

Djokovic has said his main focus is to win every match, rather than to chase qualification alone, but the Race to Turin gives every win here extra weight. He is 11th in the live Race to Turin, chasing one of the eight places at the season-ending ATP Finals later in November.

He now faces qualifier Rinky Hijikata in round two on Wednesday. Hijikata is having a strong week, with three victories -- two in qualifying and one in the first round -- without dropping a set. If Djokovic wins, a third-round meeting with Alex de Minaur looms, provided the Australian gets past Tomas Martin Etcheverry. With ATP Finals qualification on the line, the loser of a possible Djokovic-de Minaur meeting could see his Turin hopes effectively end.

De Minaur received a boost on Tuesday when Rafael Jodar, who had edged ahead in the live standings, lost in straight sets to Casper Ruud. That result qualified Italy's Flavio Cobolli for the ATP Finals, despite Cobolli having withdrawn from Paris with a leg injury.

A busy Tuesday around the grounds

Tuesday's other results underlined how tight the Turin race has become. Taylor Fritz, just behind Djokovic in the race, beat Benjamin Bonzi 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Ben Shelton beat Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4 in a commanding display that took just 71 minutes.

Tommy Paul beat 2022 Paris champion Holger Rune 7-5, 6-4. Tomas Martin Etcheverry beat Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-3), a result that also shaped de Minaur's path, while Matteo Berrettini edged Brandon Nakashima 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (10-8).

What comes next

For Djokovic, the immediate task is simple and unforgiving: beat Hijikata, then probably beat de Minaur, and keep winning while the Turin arithmetic sorts itself out. He has proved he can still win a long, physical match against an in-form opponent on indoor hard courts. The question now is whether a 39-year-old body, with a shoulder that needed attention on Tuesday, can do it again.

Paris has been good to him before. On Tuesday, for the first time in more than seven months at this level, it was good to him again.