Djokovic wins Paris thriller

PARIS – Third-seeded Novak Djokovic scrambled to a 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (3) victory over local favourite Gael Monfils to win the Paris Masters for the first time in his career on Sunday.

The 22-year-old Serb survived a 2 hour 43 minutes battle to win back-to-back ATP titles after defeating top-ranked Roger Federer in the Swiss Indoors final last Sunday.Djokovic also beat World No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals in Paris and will be a strong favourite when he’ll try to defend his title at the eight-man ATP World Tour Finals from November 22 to 29 in London.’Winning back-to-back titles at this level is a huge achievement for me, and adding to that, beating the World No.1 and No. 2,’ Djokovic said. ‘I really feel that I’m in great form right now.’Djokovic looked set for a comfortable triumph after winning the first set in just half an hour, but then struggled physically to stay at the same level.’It was unbelievably difficult,’ said the World No. 3, who has won a record 76 matches on the tour this season and claimed his first Masters 1000 tournament of the year following four defeats in finals.’Gael was very unpredictable and he was hitting the ball very well.’Djokovic extended his record against Monfils to 4-0.The former Australian Open winner fell on his knees and screamed on the centre court when Monfils – who was chasing his third career title – double-faulted on the Serb’s first match point.’I didn’t find any solution in the beginning, I was playing too defensively’, Monfils said. ‘But I didn’t lose faith in my chances and I almost overturned the match.’Djokovic, who earned his 16th career title, broke in the fourth game of the first set when Monfils missed two consecutive forehands.Losing only three points on his serve in the first set, Djokovic pumped his fist went he took a 5-2 lead with a forehand winner down the line. He won the set in the next game when Monfils made his first double fault.Monfils, who said he was exhausted after his win over Radek Stepanek in the semifinals, was broken for the second time in a row when Djokovic opened up a 2-0 lead in the second set with a passing shot at his opponent’s feet.’I had the feeling I was playing against a cyborg,’ Monfils said. – Nampa-AP