Novak Djokovic Rallies Past Vacherot in Paris

Down a set and a break, shoulder getting worked on mid-match, and Novak Djokovic still found a way. The 39-year-old came back to beat Valentin Vacherot 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-1 in his opening match at the Paris Masters on Tuesday, ending the Monegasque's five-match winning streak on Court Central.

This one mattered for more than revenge. Djokovic had dropped four straight matches at Masters 1000 level, the longest such skid of his career, and he had not won at this level since Indian Wells in March. The win also keeps his hopes for the ATP Finals in Turin alive, per Tennis Majors, though he likely needs at least a semifinal run here to stay in the race.

How Djokovic Turned It Around

Vacherot came in hot. He won the Basel title on Sunday, beating Jiri Lehecka in the final, and he served huge all afternoon with 22 aces, per the ATP Tour. He had three set points on Djokovic's serve at 5-6 in the first, and Djokovic saved all of them. Djokovic then led 5-3 in the tiebreak and lost the last four points.

It got worse before it got better. Vacherot broke in the first game of the second set, and Djokovic took a medical timeout for his right shoulder at 1-2. He broke right back for 2-2, then saved three break points at 4-4 that would have let Vacherot serve for the match. Vacherot took his own medical timeout for an ankle issue at 3-4, and at 6-5 Djokovic broke on his first set point to level it.

The third set was all Djokovic. He raced to 3-0, kept moving Vacherot side to side and closed it 6-1 after two hours and 35 minutes.

Revenge for Shanghai and a Paris Record

Vacherot beat Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 in the Shanghai semifinals last year on his way to that title, so the head-to-head is now 1-1. Djokovic is also now the oldest player to win a match in the tournament's history, passing Jimmy Connors, who was also 39 in 1991. It is win No. 51 in Paris for the seven-time champion.

"A lot of intensity today," Djokovic said on court.

Hijikata Up Next

Next up is Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata, who beat Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-2 on Monday. The shoulder is the thing to watch. If it holds up, the Smacktok lean is Djokovic to win that one in straight sets, because that third set looked like vintage Novak. One more good week in Paris and Turin is very much on the table.