The Masters 1000 series began in 1990. After more than 30 seasons, only 13 players have reached more than eight finals. The list becomes even more exclusive when we check out the players who have won eight title matches in the same Masters 1000 event.
Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are the only players to have done it. Agassi did it in Miami, and Federer followed with Indian Wells and Cincinnati. Nadal went even further and became the only player with eight finals in three Masters 1000 events, doing so in Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid.
Novak Djokovic has been among the players to beat in Rome since 2008 as well, racking up 12 finals and joining the legends. Djokovic has posted incredible results in almost every Masters 1000 event, including the Paris Masters.
The Serb reached his eighth final in the French capital a few weeks ago. Thus, he became the third player with multiple Masters 1000 tournaments with at least eight title matches, joining Nadal and Federer on the exclusive list.
Djokovic was the favorite to clinch his seventh Paris Masters crown, starting the action with a 7-6, 6-4 win over Maxime Cressy. The American attacker stayed in touch with a remarkable performance, losing the first match in a tie break and leading 4-3 in the second set.
Djokovic barely dropped a point after the opening blow and kept the pressure on the other side. The Serb got a break at 4-4 and chained three consecutive games to come out on top. Novak defeated Karen Khachanov 6-4 6-1 in the third round in a replay of the 2018 final.
The Serb lost serve once and delivered four breaks from eight chances to advance. Djokovic shattered young Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-0 6-3 in 74 minutes after another strong performance in the quarter-finals.
Nole Djokovic is in great shape
Speaking to Eurosport about Novak Djokovic’s up-and-down year, Mats Wilander said: “Novak has been so close to being allowed to go to the Australian Open and so close to being allowed to go to the US Open, that it would have never affected his training blocks or his practice sessions.
And I think because he wasn’t allowed to go, I think obviously physically it might be a tough thing for him to play five sets, seven matches, but he can deal with that. But I think that he looks so fresh, he looks so good.
I can’t quite understand or believe that he did not win the tournament in Paris [Djokovic lost in the final to Holger Rune]. I was shocked that he didn’t win that. But he played good enough and you can’t win everything.”
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