The final big indoor tournament of the tennis season is in full swing, and Tuesday in Paris delivered drama. At the Rolex Paris Masters, which runs from November 2 to 8, Novak Djokovic fought back from a set down to stay alive in both the tournament and the race for a place at the ATP Finals. This recap draws on the ATP Tour’s official results and Flashscore’s live coverage.
Djokovic’s comeback
The Serb faced Monaco’s Valentin Vacherot, the recently crowned Basel champion, and lost the opening set 7-6(5) in just under an hour. He edged an equally tight second set 7-5 and then took the decider 6-1. Flashscore reported that both players needed medical timeouts during the match.
The win matters beyond the scoreboard. Flashscore noted that Djokovic is chasing a spot at the year-end ATP Finals in Turin, and he is also looking for a first Masters 1000 title of 2026. Staying alive in Paris keeps both goals within reach.
Shelton cruises
Ben Shelton had a far easier day, beating Britain’s Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4 in just over an hour. Flashscore reported the news that Shelton will be coached by Juan Carlos Ferrero next season, and noted that the American is guaranteed to face an unseeded opponent in the next round.
Fritz, Paul and Tien keep the American push going
Several other Americans advanced, too. Eleventh seed Taylor Fritz came from behind to beat French qualifier Benjamin Bonzi 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in front of a home crowd. Tommy Paul beat Holger Rune 7-5, 6-4, and Learner Tien got past lucky loser Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 in two hours and 22 minutes. Alex Michelsen beat Jiri Lehecka 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4.
Ruud ends a young Spaniard’s Turin hopes
The biggest result of the evening came in the final match of the day. Casper Ruud beat Spaniard Rafael Jodar 6-3, 6-4. Flashscore reported that the 20-year-old had been in with a chance of qualifying for the ATP Finals in his first full year on tour, but that the loss makes it unlikely because Alex de Minaur, Djokovic, Fritz and Paul are all still in the Paris draw and able to overtake him in the standings.
Other results from Tuesday
Here are a few more results from Tuesday:
- Matteo Berrettini beat Brandon Nakashima, saving two match points in the tiebreak, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(8).
- Tomas Martin Etcheverry beat Andrey Rublev 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-6(3). Flashscore reported the match lasted just under three hours.
- Arthur Rinderknech advanced when Francisco Cerundolo retired while trailing 6-3, 6-7(2), 0-2.
- Quentin Halys beat Arthur Fery 7-6(6), 7-5 and will face seventh seed Frances Tiafoe.
- Nuno Borges beat French teenager Moise Kouame 6-3, 6-1 and will meet Karen Khachanov next.
Why this tournament matters
The Paris Masters is the last Masters 1000 event of the season, and it arrives just before the ATP Finals in Turin. That timing gives every match extra weight. Players on the bubble can pick up ranking points and valuable momentum, while those who have already qualified use the week to sharpen their game ahead of the season finale.
Paris also has a special place in Djokovic’s career. Flashscore described him as a seven-time former champion in the French capital, so every comeback here adds to a long history.
What to watch next
The tournament moves on through the second round and into the quarterfinals later this week, with the singles final scheduled for Sunday, November 8. Keep an eye on three storylines: whether Djokovic can build on his tough win, how the Americans in the draw fare, and how the final qualification spots for Turin shake out.
If you are planning to watch, check the official schedule on the ATP Tour or the tournament’s site for match times, since order of play can change from day to day.
The bottom line
A day that began with qualifiers and lucky losers ended with one of the sport’s greats surviving a scare and a rising Spanish star seeing his Turin hopes dim. With a handful of days left in Paris, the race to the year-end finals is wide open.
*Sources: ATP Tour and Flashscore, as linked above. Results are as published on November 3, 2026.*
Image: Paris Skyline (210774145) by Gianfranco Albergo via Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0
