World number one Novak Djokovic and world number two Carlos Alcaraz will both feature in the Rolex Paris Masters 2023. Here is my preview of the prestigious event.
Paris, an indoor hardcourt tournament, is the ninth and last of the ATP 1000 events of the year. It is the only ATP 1000 Masters tournament to be played indoors. The 2023 edition is the 52nd time it will be played.
The tournament, which is played on one of the fastest surfaces, is a big favourite among players as it gives them a last-minute chance to enter the year-ending ATP Finals. So far only Djokovic, Alcaraz, Medvedev and Sinner have qualified for this years year ending event. Four slots are open and amongst others, Rublev, Zverev, Tsitsipas, and defending Paris Masters Champion Holger Rune will be hoping to make the cut. Taylor Fritz and Hurkacz will also be fancying an outside chance. Ben Shelton who has surged to number 14 after his triumph at Tokyo will not qualify but will be making an attempt to do well and possibly break into the top ten.
Brief history
The tournament was preceded by the French Covered Court Championships from 1895 to 1968. Jean Borotra, with 11 wins in the period between the world wars, was the most successful player.
The current tournament debuted in 1969 with the inaugural winner being Tom Okker who prevailed over Butch Buchholz. Okker is one of the best Dutch players who reached the Finals of the US Open and the Semi-finals of the other three Grand Slams as well. Tom Okker won the event a second time as well and was in the top ten for ten years. Butch was an American tennis player who reached the Semi-finals of the US Open once.
Since then, the tournament has been held annually, barring four years – 1983-85 and 1971. In 1990 it became an ATP Masters tournament. Some great players who have won the tournament include Arthur Ashe, Ilie Năstase, Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg, Goran Ivanišević, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer, Andy Murray, and Novak Djokovic. The player with the most successes here is Djokovic, who has won six times and lost a final once each to Khachanov and Rune. Becker and Safin have won thrice each.
From the crowned tournament champions in this century, Djokovic, Medvedev, Rune, and Khachanov are playing this year. Djokovic is a multiple champion with 6 titles here while the other three have won once eachAlcaraz has not win here and would be seeking to win his 1st title here.
Last French Champion
Tsonga is the last French player to win here. He had prevailed over David Nalbandian in 2008. For four straight years from 2008-2011, there was at least one Frenchman in the finals – Tsonga featured in 2008 and 2011 and Gael Monfils in 2009 and 2010. Tsonga’s win in 2008 was especially credible since Nalbandian was the defending champion with a stunning 6-4 6-0 win over Rafael Nadal in a year where Rafa, apart from winning French Open, had stretched Federer to five sets before dethroning him in 2008. 2007 was the only time Nadal reached the final. In 2011, Tsonga lost here to Federer.
Incredible record of Djokovic
Djokovic has a 6-2 record in finals of the Paris Masters and is the only player in the 50-year history of the tournament to have defended his title here. In 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2015 Novak prevailed against Monfils, David Ferrer, Milos Raonic and Murray respectively. In 2019 he defeated Shapovalov, and in 2021 he defeated Medvedev.
Paris double
The French Open and Paris Masters together constitute the Paris double and there are only four players who have won both – Ilie Nastase, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Federer did not do it the same year, while Nastase and Agassi did it in in the same year in 1973 and 1999 respectively. Novak is in both categories. He is a multiple champion here and he has won the French Open in 2016, 2021, and 2023. In 2021 he won the Paris Masters as well and achieved the Paris double in the same year.
Can Novak repeat his own feat of winning both French Open and Paris Masters in the same year? Can Holger Rune be the 1st champion other than Djokovic to defend the title here? Or will we see a Djokovic Alcaraz final.
An exciting tournament awaits us.
About the Author:
The blogger, Ritesh Misra, is an IRS Officer. He can be reached at riteshmisra2015@gmail.com.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Pragativadi and Pragativadi.com does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
