Djokovic is master in Paris as he keeps alive top spot hopes

Novak Djokovic defeated Denis Shapovalov to win the Rolex Paris Masters for the fifth time and boost his chance of finishing the season ranked world number one.

Despite his 6-3 6-4 victory over the young Canadian, Djokovic will lose top spot in the rankings today, for the first time in a year, to Rafael Nadal.

With only the ATP Finals in London to come in terms of ranking events, the Spaniard’s 640-point lead in the annual standings is a healthy one but Djokovic is chasing hard.

After beginning the week under the weather, Djokovic had looked stronger with each match and he was just too good for 20-year-old Shapovalov, appearing in his first Masters final.

Djokovic faced only one break point in the match while winning 14 of the 17 points in which Shapovalov had to rely on his second serve.

In an on-court interview broadcast by Amazon Prime, Djokovic said: “It was a great tournament for me. I haven’t dropped a set. I played really well, especially in the last three matches.

“Obviously Denis – first time playing in a Masters 1000 final, completely new experience – he has done well. I think we both served very well. I was solid, when I needed to I made the break and that was enough.

“This gives me a lot of encouragement going into the ATP Finals in London.”

Shapovalov’s run to the final followed on from his first ATP title in Stockholm last month and he will rise to a career-high ranking of 15 today.

Meanwhile world No 1 Ashleigh Barty ended the 2019 season in style as she beat defending champion Elina Svitolina to win the WTA Finals in Shenzhen.

The 23-year-old Australian, who had lost all five previous meetings with Svitolina, won 6-4 6-3 to claim 4.42 million US dollars (£3.4m) – the biggest prize money in tennis history.

Barty, the reigning French Open champion, ended Svitolina’s 10-match winning run at the WTA Finals and stopped the 25-yearold becoming the first player to defend the title since Serena Williams, who won three in a row between 2012 and 2014.

Barty, who only broke into the top 10 in April, said on wtatennis.com: “It feels like it’s been a year that just hasn’t stopped. It’s been a year of incredible ups and downs – I think more ups than downs. To cap it off with a very, very special night tonight in Shenzhen is really cool.”

Getty. Novak Djokovic celebrates his victory.