The Serbian will be making his return to competitive tennis since his defeat in the US open final to Russian Daniil Medvedev.
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World No 1 men’s tennis player Novak Djokovic has signed up for both singles and doubles duty at next week’s Paris Masters. The Serbian will be making his return to competitive tennis since his defeat in the US open final to Russian Daniil Medvedev. He will be partnering with fellow Serbian Filip Krajinovic in the doubles event with an eye on some practice ahead of the Davis Cup at the end of November. The 34-year-old will be the top seed at the Masters 1000 event in Bercy.
“He’s going to play with Krajinovic, his buddy from the Davis Cup,” tournament director Guy Forget told reporters on Saturday.
“He said he would commit himself to play for the Davis Cup for his own country. This is why he wanted to play doubles here.
Djokovic, who is level with Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal on 20 major titles, has not played since coming up short last month in his bid for a Grand Slam, losing in straight sets to Medvedev at Flushing Meadows.
The Serbian is aiming for a record-extending sixth-title in Paris. He has won more matches at the Paris Masters than any other player and last competed in the tournament in 2019, when he lifted the trophy. He chose not to take part in the 2020 edition of the tournament which was won by Medvedev.
If Djokovic lifts the trophy at Paris Masters, it would be his 37th Masters 1000 title, breaking the tie he currently shares with Nadal. To add to that, he can seal the year-end World No. 1 ranking for the seventh time.
Krajinovic and Djokovic will take on Australian pair of Luke Saville and Alex de Minaur in their opening match in Paris. The Serbian duo last played together at the 2021 ATP Cup in Melbourne, where they defeated Milos Raonic and Denis Shapovalov in straight sets.
“We don’t often see him play doubles, so we’re delighted. It’s rare to see a No. 1 playing a Masters 1000 in doubles.” Forget added.
After a first round bye, Djokovic will open his Paris Masters singles campaign either against Italian Fabio Fognini or Marton Fucsovics from Hungary.
