Novak Djokovic enters the ATP Finals in peak form and brimming with confidence. The top-seeded Serb is currently on an 18-match winning streak, capped off by his landmark 40th Masters 1000 title. Having not tasted defeat since the Wimbledon final against Carlos Alcaraz in July, Djokovic extended his record at the Paris Masters this past Sunday, beating Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets (6-4, 6-3). By lifting the trophy in Paris, he has widened the gap between himself and Alcaraz in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race to Turin to 1490 points, making it almost certain that he will finish the year as world number one for a record eighth time.
Serbian star Novak Djokovic will be brimming with confidence as he heads to the ATP Finals. The top-ranked Serb enters the year-end event next weekend on an 18-match winning streak, coming off his 40th Masters 1000 tournament victory. Djokovic, who has not lost a match since losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final in July, won a record-extending seventh victory at the Paris Masters on Sunday, defeating Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets 6-4, 6-3. Djokovic expanded his lead over the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race to Turin to 1490 points by capturing the Paris trophy, making it highly likely that he will win the ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by Pepperstone for a record-extending eighth time.
Following three consecutive matches that pushed him to the limit, Djokovic enjoyed a relatively smooth afternoon at the Palais Omnisport. His comprehensive performance allowed him to make history as the first player to ever capture 40 Masters 1000 titles. Thanks to his impeccable consistency from the back of the court, Dimitrov struggled to find any rhythm, and Djokovic efficiently closed out the 98-minute contest with one break in each set.
From the opening game, Djokovic was the clear aggressor, while Dimitrov appeared hesitant and struggled to find his timing, allowing the Serb to control the tempo entirely. The Bulgarian finished behind in every statistical category, extending Djokovic's head-to-head lead to 12-1. During the first set, Djokovic was nearly perfect on serve, conceding only seven games before breaking to lead 4-3.
As Djokovic returned to his bench during the changeover after the first set, he was met with a barrage of boos and whistling from the crowd. Rather than being rattled, he seemed amused by the hostility, gesturing toward the spectators as if inviting them to make even more noise.
Dimitrov's struggle continued into the second set, where a series of service errors led to another break in the fifth game. Djokovic kept the pressure high, holding his own serve at love to move ahead 4-2. He eventually sealed the victory in the ninth game when a final backhand from Dimitrov sailed out of bounds.
Djokovic expressed his disbelief at the win, noting the mental and physical toll of the week. He admitted that he had been on the verge of losing three separate matches on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, but managed to find an 'extra gear' just in time. He concluded by saying he felt immense pride in the victory given the challenges he overcame during the tournament.