With 34 Masters titles now under his belt, Novak Djokovic has overtaken Rafael Nadal for the lead in that department, bringing his total career ATP Tour titles to 77.
By defeating the young Canadian Denis Shapovalov in Sunday's final, Djokovic claimed his fifth Paris Masters title, putting him in a strong position to end the season as the world's top-ranked player. He cruised to a 6-3, 6-4 victory over the 20-year-old, who seemed unsettled following Rafael Nadal's withdrawal from their semifinal match. Although Nadal is set to regain the number one ranking next week, Djokovic still has the chance to equal Pete Sampras' mark of six years finishing as the world number one.
Nadal, currently 33, is dealing with an abdominal injury that makes his appearance at the ATP Tour Finals in London on November 10 questionable. Djokovic, however, is a seasoned veteran of the season-ending event, having won it five times. This win was particularly sweet for the Serb, who fell to Karen Khachanov in the Bercy final a year prior; he played a disciplined match against the world number 28, Shapovalov, saving the only break point he conceded.
The 16-time Grand Slam champion has amassed 34 Masters titles, bringing him within striking distance of the all-time record and totaling 77 ATP Tour wins. This victory in Paris marks his fifth trophy of the year, adding to his titles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, Madrid, and Tokyo. It also further extends his successful history in Paris, where he previously won in 2009 and from 2013 to 2015.
Competing in his 50th Masters final, Djokovic made his presence felt immediately, hitting an ace on the very first point to secure an early hold. Shapovalov clearly struggled with nerves, committing several unforced errors that allowed Djokovic to jump to a 2-0 lead. Although the Canadian eventually found his serving rhythm to close the gap, Djokovic had already seized the momentum and pushed the lead to 5-2 in the first set.