Djokovic beats Medvedev for 37th Masters title in Paris

PARIS - World number one Novak Djokovic won a sixth Paris title and record 37th Masters crown on Sunday, beating 2020 champion Daniil Medvedev 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the final.

The 34-year-old Serbian gained a measure of revenge over his Russian opponent who dashed his dreams of a Grand Slam sweep in the US Open final in September.

The Masters title secured Djokovic's second record in as many days after he was confirmed as season-ending world number one for a seventh time.

The 20-time Grand Slam winner said he approached the final in a relaxed frame of mind after wrapping up the world number one landmark.

Djokovic had not been too concerned when he went a set down against a man he considers "the complete player" and who he expects to be world number one in the future.

"It was a very close match decided by small margins based on a few points here and there," he said.

"I was very pleased how I held my nerves at the end and took the match point.

"I wanted to finish the end of season with a trophy and did not want to lock myself mentally and physically in stressful mode.

"I knew things would come together and I would work my way into the match."

Djokovic said he had felt no hangover from the US Open defeat.

"I mean, I already closed that chapter," he said.

"I am not regretting it or spending days suffering because I did not take the calendar slam this year.

"I have moved on from that and focussed on Masters event and came here and achieved what I wanted to do."

Medvedev said Djokovic - who he calls his "friend" - was stronger on the crucial points.

"I don't like losing, so I cannot say I am happy, I don't even like losing at Play Station!" said Medvedev at his press conference.

"But I gave everything and maybe I could have done a winner here or there or served one or two more aces.

"When you lose a match you always have the feelings that you can do a bit better. Trouble was Novak won the crucial points and apart form the first set I did not.

"However, I take consolation in having given everything against the best player in the world of all time. It was a good battle."

AFP