Djokovic bests Monfils for Paris crown
Novak Djokovic: winner of back-to-back titles
Sunday, 15, Nov 2009 06:49
By James Christie.
Novak Djokovic overcame some stubborn French resistance from Gael Monfils to win 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (7-3) in the final of the Paris Masters.
But for a couple of poor serves the outcome might have different; Monfils double-faulted at set point down in the first set and did so again on match point.
Serbian Djokovic is used to beating the home favourite in major events as last week he beat Roger Federer to win the Swiss indoor final.
The world number three looked to be coasting to victory when he went a set and 3-0 up against number 15 seed Monfils. But the French player thrilled the 14,000 crowd by storming back to level the match.
Djokovic opened up a 4-1 lead in the decider but his 23-year-old opponent again mounted a fine recovery to force a tiebreak which he will have been disappointed to lose after two hours and 43 minutes of action.
It has been a successful fortnight for Djokovic, who thrashed world number two Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-3 in Saturday's semi-final.
If he can take his form to London in a week's time he should surely be a strong contender to win the ATP end-of-year event, a tournament contested by the world's top eight players.