Novak Djokovic became the oldest match winner in Paris Masters history by beating Valentin Vacherot 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-1. Casper Ruud ousted ninth seed Rafael Jodar, Tommy Paul beat Holger Rune and Taylor Fritz came from a set down on a Turin-race Tuesday.
Paris, France: The indoor courts at La Défense Arena turned Tuesday into an elimination round for the final places at the ATP Finals. Djokovic survived, Ruud shook up the standings and two more Turin hopefuls stayed alive.
Djokovic outlasts Vacherot
Djokovic, 39, needed 2 hours 35 minutes to beat Vacherot 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-1. He saved three set points at 5-6 in the opening set but lost the tie-break. Vacherot broke for 2-0 in the second, Djokovic received treatment for a shoulder problem, and the Serb then recovered the break. At 4-4 he saved three break points, then broke at 6-5 to level the match. Vacherot, who needed treatment on an ankle, faded in the decider, and Djokovic took it 6-1.
It made Djokovic the oldest match winner in the tournament’s history, and he already holds the record of seven Paris titles. He is 11th in the Race to Turin on 2,940 points and needs a semi-final run to have a realistic chance of qualifying. Next is qualifier Rinky Hijikata, who beat Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-2. His autumn has had other dents, including a Basel defeat to Jan-Lennard Struff.
Ruud reshapes the race
The biggest result of the evening came when Ruud beat Jodar 6-3, 6-4 in 1 hour 18 minutes. Jodar, 20, was playing as a Top 10 player for the first time. Ruud’s win avenged Jodar’s earlier victory over him in Shanghai and left the Spaniard stuck on 3,234 points in ninth, the last qualifying place. Alex de Minaur, tenth, can pass him with a win over Tomás Martín Etcheverry on Wednesday.
The result also settled one place. Flavio Cobolli, who withdrew from Paris with a left leg injury, is guaranteed a spot at the ATP Finals. Jodar and Ruud had both advanced in Monday’s round-up before meeting.
Paul and Fritz stay in the hunt
Paul, the 12th seed, beat Rune 7-5, 6-4 in 1 hour 21 minutes. Rune, ranked 195th, was playing on a protected ranking. Paul needs to reach the final to stay in contention for Turin and faces Spain’s Daniel Mérida next. Fritz, the 11th seed, rallied from a set down to beat qualifier Benjamin Bonzi 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 and plays Slovak qualifier Alex Molčan.
Other results
Matteo Berrettini beat 14th seed Brandon Nakashima 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(8), saving two match points and winning the final-set tie-break 10-8. It was his first win in Paris and gave him at least one victory at all nine Masters 1000 events. He plays Ugo Humbert next. Quentin Halys beat Arthur Fery 7-6(6), 7-5, serving 17 aces and holding all 12 of his service games, and meets seventh seed Frances Tiafoe. Alex Michelsen came back to beat Jiří Lehečka 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 and will face Carlos Alcaraz. Third seed Ben Shelton beat Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4, and Etcheverry beat Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-6(3) in 2 hours 49 minutes.
Paris Masters results, Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Djokovic (10) d. Vacherot 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-1; Ruud d. Jodar (9) 6-3, 6-4; Paul (12) d. Rune 7-5, 6-4; Fritz (11) d. Bonzi 3-6, 6-3, 6-4; Berrettini d. Nakashima (14) 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(8); Halys d. Fery 7-6(6), 7-5; Michelsen d. Lehečka 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4; Shelton (3) d. Norrie 6-3, 6-4; Etcheverry d. Rublev 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-6(3).
