Djokovic Beats Shapo, Inches Closer To Year-End No. 1 Finish

Novak Djokovic will head to the Nitto ATP Finals in striking distance in the battle for year-end No. 1. The Serbian won his 34^th ATP Masters 1000 title on Sunday, beating #NextGenATP Canadian Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-4 at the Rolex Paris Masters.

Djokovic was untouchable on serve and took advantage of a nervy start from Shapovalov, who was broken twice in his first Masters 1000 final, to claim a record-extending fifth Paris Masters 1000 title and remain unbeaten against the 20-year-old in their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry (4-0).

Djokovic added 1,000 ATP Race To London points to his tally and, with 8,945 points, is only 640 points away from Spain’s Rafael Nadal (9,585), who will become No. 1 on Monday for the first time in a year. Nadal withdrew from his semi-final against Shapovalov (abdominal) but said he plans to do everything to be ready to compete at the Nitto ATP Finals, to be held 10-17 November at The O2 in London.

ATP Masters 1000 Career Title Leaders

Djokovic climbed to within one of Nadal’s all-time Masters 1000 titles lead and also tied John McEnroe on the all-time titles list with his 77^th tour-level crown.

Shapovalov, with new coach Mikhail Youzhny, has been in the form of his life of late, winning his first ATP Tour title at the Intrum Stockholm Open last month and making his first Masters 1000 final in Paris. But the left-hander couldn’t hold off Djokovic, who was in control throughout the final. Shapovalov lifted a forehand long during his first service game to hand the Serbian the early break.

All-Time Leading ATP Title Winners

Djokovic was hitting his spots on his serve and was never so much as even pushed to Deuce in the opening set. Shapovalov recomposed himself in the second, but another forehand error gave Djokovic the break in the seventh game and a clear path to his fifth title of the season, which ties him with Dominic Thiem for the Tour lead. Djokovic, who will receive €995,720 in prize money, is now 11-1 at the Paris Masters 1000 after reaching the semi-finals.

Shapovalov will receive 600 ATP Rankings points and €995,720 in prize money and is projected to climb to a career-high No. 15 in the ATP Rankings.