For anyone who still had doubts: yes, Novak Djokovic still has a lot to give. The Serbian came from a set down to beat Monaco’s Valentin Vacherot 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-1 in 2 hours 35 minutes in the first round of the Rolex Paris Masters on Tuesday. “A lot of intensity today,” Djokovic summed up in French on court after the match.

At 39, the 10th seed and seven-time champion becomes the oldest player to win a match in the tournament’s history, ahead of Jimmy Connors, who was also 39 in 1991. He extends his own record to 51 match wins in Paris. Djokovic also ended a four-match losing streak at Masters 1000 level, the longest of his career. It was his first win at this level since he reached the fourth round at Indian Wells in March.

“It’s the first time for me here. It’s impressive, honestly,” he said of the Plenitude Arena, where he was playing for the first time.

The win keeps his ATP Finals hopes alive. He moves to 2,940 points in the Race to Turin, and needs at least the semi-finals to stay in contention. Only the title would guarantee his place.

Djokovic saves three break points at 4-4 in the second set against Vacherot

The first set went without a break. Serving at 5-6, Djokovic saved three set points, then led 5-3 in the tie-break before losing the last four points, two of them on his serve.

Vacherot broke at the start of the second set to lead 2-0. Djokovic broke back at 2-2, then saved three break points at 4-4 that would have allowed the Monegasque to serve for the match. At 6-5, he broke on his first set point to level.

“Honestly, it’s a victory for the crowd,” Djokovic said. “There was a moment in the second set, a break point for him, we had a 15- or 20-shot rally. I found a good shot at the end.”

The third set was one-way traffic. Djokovic raced to 3-0, had a break point for 4-0 and took it 6-1 as Vacherot’s unforced errors piled up.

Vacherot’s winning run ends in Paris

Vacherot had beaten Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 in the Shanghai semi-finals in 2025, on his way to the title. He arrived in Paris on a five-match winning streak after winning the Basel title on Sunday, beating Jiri Lehecka 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the final.

Djokovic will face Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata in the second round. Hijikata beat Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-2 on Monday.