Novak Djokovic’s run to the final ATP 1000 title of the year, the BNP Paribas Masters at Paris-Bercy, was hardly a surprise- he was the defending champion playing in his best stretch of the tour (US Open Series-Miami)- but the convincing way he took apart his opponents was something of an eye opener for a man who fans predicted might not have been getting much sleep with fatherhood on his mind and the tour’s very own father figure, the 33 year old father of four Roger Federer, on his back in the race to the season ending ATP No.1 ranking. The tennis review reviews Djokovic’s run to the title.
Pre-tournament: All the talk was of “Daddy Djokovic”- the world No.1 had become a father pre-tournament- and how focused Djokovic would be. But babies were not all tennis pundits were musing about. A big defeat to Federer the last time they met, in the Shanghai semi-finals a couple of weeks back, was also a conversation piece. How would the Serb recover? He would need a complete recovery if he was going to defend his Paris title, and more to the point, his place on top of the ATP Rankings. Federer was not far behind him and playing well having just won the Swiss Indoors, and the pressure was on Djokovic to perform like a world No.1 if he wanted to keep that status.
Expectations: Seeded first, defending champion, arguably the best player on medium-slow indoor courts, nothing less than a win was expected, but Djokovic would have been forgiven if he slipped up with the distraction of fatherhood, and if Federer was to be the one who beat him, Djokovic would have been forgiven even more by a pro-Federer media.
The run: The draw could have been kinder than dishing up 24th ranked German Phillip Kohlschreiber in the opening round. Djokovic led the German 5-1, but had dropped six total sets to him. However, Djokovic broke his opponent three times on his way to a 6-3, 6-4 win in 85 minutes.
Perhaps Gael Monfils, the Frenchman who had so nearly beaten Djokovic in their three set thriller in Toronto this Summer, could get under the Serb’s skin? Not in the first set of their meeting in Paris which Djokovic took 6-3. The second set was a different story. Monfils served well- he hit 12 aces in total in the match- and took Djokovic to a tiebreaker which the Serbian edged 7-2 as he took the match 6-3, 7-6 (2).
Andy Murray was Djokovic’s quarter-final opponent. The world No.1 has made beating Murray something of a formality in 2014 and took this match 7-5, 6-2 as he claimed his fourth victory over the Scot this season.
In the semi-finals, Djokovic came up against Kei Nishikori, the 24 year old Japanese world No. 7 who has stunned him in the US Open semis. Djokovic dominated his rival 6-2, 6-3 on a day on which his serve clicked (8 aces and 80 percent of first service points won, 50 percent of second serves), as well as his return game (broke his opponent 4 times).
In the final, Djokovic faced Canada’s tenth ranked Milos Raonic. The Serb led the 23 year old 3-0 but had only competed against him on clay. Well, on Djokovic’s favorite surface, things would be no different as the Serb’s return game put enough pressure on Raonic to break him three times and take the match 6-2, 6-3 in 83 minutes.
With Federer out in the quarters to Raonic, Djokovic increased his lead at the top of the ATP rankings and sent a message out that fatherhood inspired him not tired him and on his favorite surface, it would need a Federer like Shanghai performance to beat him. Now the tour looks ahead to see if Federer can reproduce that form in London as the Swiss attempts to knock the Serb from the top of the ATP rankings.
Commentary by Christian Deverille
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