Djokovic vs Vacherot: A stellar 1st round
Novak Djokovic he has more Paris Masters titles than anyone in the tournament’s 40 years, seven of them. He returns this week without the once-guaranteed privilege of those trophies. The Serbian, seeded 10th at the Rolex Paris Masters, will be out of the top eight who missed the first round. Valentin Vacherot Monaco on Monday or Tuesday. The draw then sees him face Alex de Minaur in the third round and Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals.
Tournament director Cédric Piolen revealed details of Friday’s draw ceremony at the Plenitude Arena. “It’s a little quirk that can’t happen to him for too long,” Piolin said. “He’s ranked, but not in the top eight. That means he will play his first round on Monday or Tuesday.”
Djokovic returns to Paris after a two-year absence for his first appearance at the venue that replaced Bercy last season. He arrives within a goal of a record eighth title. Piolin noted that Djokovic has said he wants to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, which begins on November 15.
His first opponent comes from the same tournament in better form. Vacherot beat Rafael Jodar in Basel on Thursday. The winner of their match will face Luciano Darderi or a qualifier before a possible meeting with No. 8 de Minaur. Zverev is waiting beyond it. He is the No. 1 seed and will be playing his first tournament as world No. 1, an event that the tournament plans to celebrate with a ceremony along with the ATP.
Zverev’s own start is anything but soft. After a first-round bye, he will face the winner of Lorenzo Musetti and Hubert Hurkac, one of several heavyweight matchups in the opening round.
Holger RuhnThe 2022 champion is unbeaten and will face Tommy Paul (#12). Francis Tiafoe (number 7) is waiting for the third round. Learner Tien (No. 15) opens against Stefanos Tsitsipas. Karen Khachanovchampion 2018, in the game Denis Shapovalov in a section that leads to Daniil Medvedev (No. 4), who won the title in 2020. Brandon Nakashima (number 14) meeting Matteo Berettiniand: Alex Michelsen is playing Jiri Lehecka for the face right Carlos Alcaraz in the second stage.
Nine French players are in the draw and two of them are playing against seeds. Arthur Rinderknecht faces Francisco Cerundolo (number 16), while wild card Moise Kouame is playing Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (number 13). Hugo Humbert is meeting Botich from Zandschulp.
Arthur sonThe No. 6 is seeded and in Alcaraz’s quarterfinals, but his participation is uncertain after he pulled out of the Basel quarterfinals against Taylor Fritz on Friday with a sore leg.
Rolex Paris Masters 2026 draw
THE LAST HALF
Alexander Zverev (GEH) (No. 1) vs. Bey
Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) vs. Hubert Hurkacz (POL)
Luca Van Assche (FRA) vs. Mariano Navone (ARG)
Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) vs. Tien the Learner (USA) (No. 15)
Novak Djokovic (SRB) (No. 10) vs. Valentin Vacherot (MON)
Luciano Darderi (ITA) vs Qualifier/SE
Andrei Rublev vs. Thomas Martin Etcheverry (ARG)
Bye vs. Alex de Minaur (AUS) (No. 8)
Ben Shelton (USA) (No. 3) vs bye
Cameron Norrie (GBR) def. Matteo Arnaldi (ITA)
Qualifier/SE vs Qualifier/SE
Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) vs. Arthur Rinderknecht (FRA) Francisco Cerundolo (ARG) (No. 16)
Tommy Paul (USA) (#12) vs. Holger Rooney (DEN)
Daniel Merida (ESP) vs. Alexander Blockx (BEL)
Quentin Hallis (FRA) vs. Arthur Ferry (GBR)
Bye vs. Frances Tiafoe (USA) (No. 7)
LOWER HALF
Third quarter
Flavio Cobolli (ITA) (#5) vs. Bay
Qualifying round/SE vs. Arthur Gea (FRA) (WC)
Casper Ruud (NOR) vs Qualifier/SE
Alejandro Tabillo (CHI) vs. Rafael Jodar (ESP) (No. 9)
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) (No. 13) vs. Moise Kouame (FRA) (WC)
Denis Shapovalov (CAN) vs. Karen Khachanov
Ignacio Buse (PER) vs. Bergs Toys (BEL)
“Bai” vs. Daniil Medvedev (No. 4)
Arthur Fils (FRA) (#6) vs. Bay
Kyrian Jacquet (FRA) (WC) vs Qualifier/SE
Qualifying round/SE vs. Titouan Drogue (FRA) (WC)
Qualifying round/SE vs. Taylor Fritz (USA) (No. 11)
Brandon Nakashima (USA) (#14) vs. Matteo Berettini (ITA)
Hugo Humbert (FRA) vs. Botic van de Zandschulp (NED)
Alex Michelsen (USA) vs Jiri Lehetska (Czech Republic)
Bye vs. Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) (No. 2)
Theoretical quarter-finals
Alexander Zverev (#1) vs. Alex de Minaur (#8)
Ben Shelton (#3) vs. Francis Tiafoe (#7)
Flavio Cobolli (#5) vs. Daniil Medvedev (#4)
Arthur Fils (#6) vs. Carlos Alcaraz (#2)
