ATP Masters Paris-Bercy: How Novak Djokovic could fix number one in Paris at the end of the year
Novak Djokovic won three Grand Slam tournaments in the 2021 calendar year and reached the final once. Nevertheless, the number one place in the world has not yet been fixed at the end of the year. We looked at the possible scenarios how the Serb could make everything clear in Paris-Bercy.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit:
Nov 03, 2021, 05:57 pm
Actually, it's absurd. It is absurd that at the beginning of November - a few days before the 2021 season is finally history - there is still a discussion about who will win the prestigious number one title at the end of the year. Simply because the man who is currently on the Platz in der Sonne in the ATP charts was able to win three of four Grand Slam tournaments this year. And had reached the final for the last of them.
Ironically, the man who not only snatched away the US Open title from Novak Djokovic on this memorable evening in Flushing Meadows, but above all destroyed the calendar Grand Slam at the last moment, Daniil Medvedev from Russia, still has a chance, to oust the Serbs from the throne at the end of the year. But only of a purely arithmetical nature, mind you, the Serb could already make everything clear in Paris-Bercy. And thus lead this comparison alone with no less than seven number one finishes. We looked at the possible scenarios.
Medvedev needs quarter-finals
Should Novak Djokovic win the title in Paris-Bercy, the industry leader - one is inclined to say befitting - would have secured the number one position at the end of the year. Because then it would be completely irrelevant how the only remaining persecutor Daniil Medvedev fares in the French capital. If the Serb reaches the final, the Russian should not win the tournament. If Djokovic is in the semifinals, the man from Belgrade must hope that the US Open champion will also fail in the semifinals.
In any case, the prerequisite for Daniil Medvedev to have a real chance of finishing in first place is reaching the quarter-finals in Paris-Bercy. If the Russian is eliminated beforehand, Djokovic's performance is completely irrelevant. If Djokovic reaches the third round, Medvedev should at least play his way to the semifinals. This is the starting position for Paris-Bercy, even if the world number one Djokovic in France does not manage to make things clear when it comes to number one at the end of the year, the man from Belgrade still has the Nitto ATP finals. And Daniil Medvedev? Probably only the hope of a little tennis miracle.
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