Paris Rolex Paris Masters FInal 031119 Novak Djokovic (SRB) with trophy as he wins Final against Denis Shpovalov (CAN) Photo Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd/Alamy Live News
The Paris Masters is the last Masters 1000 tournament of the year, a men’s only event representing the last chance at securing a spot in the tour finals. Many of the world’s best attend and the recent winners have been a mixture of surprising dark horses and strong favourites, but who will win this year?
Previous winners
Daniil Medvedev (2)
-Russia
-24 years old
-World number two
-US Open winner (2021)
-2020 victory against Zverev in the final
-Out in the fourth round of Indian Wells to Dimitrov, complaining about fatigue
-Already Qualified for Tour Finals
-Resting
Novak Djokovic (1)
-Serbia
-34 years old
-World number one
-20 grand slams (9x AUS, 2xRG, 6x Wim, 3x US)
-Five Paris Masters victories: in 2019 against Shapovalov, in 2015 against Murray, in 2014 against Roanic, in 2013 against Ferrer, in 2009 against Monfils.
-Six Finals, lost to Khachanov in 2018
-First competed in 2005
-Strong season, three slam victories and a final
-Hasn’t played since US Open
-Already qualified for Tour Finals
-May have recovered from fatigue
-One of the favourites
Karen Khachanov
-Russia
-25 years old
-World number 30
-Two-time grand slam quarterfinalist in the 2019 French Open, and 2021 Wimbledon.
-One Paris Masters victory in 2018 against Djokovic in the final.
-First competed in 2017
-Mixed Season, Olympic silver, quarterfinal in Wimbledon
-Out in the fourth round of Indian Wells to Basilashvili
-Cannot qualify for tour finals
-Outsider on decent form
Jack Sock
-USA
-29 years old
-Outside top 100
-Three time grand slam doubles champion in 2014 Wimbledon, 2018 Wimbledon and 2018 US Open
-One Paris Masters victory in 2017 against Krajinovic
-First competed in 2014
-Hasn’t quite captured the singles form of 2017, though Sock has won one doubles tournament this year
-Out in the first round of Indian Wells to Millman
-Would be a surprise beyond the second round
-Not on current player list
Andy Murray (WC)
-Great Britain
-34 years old
-Outside top 100
-Three grand slams (2xWim, 1xUS), plus two Olympic golds
-One Paris Masters victory in 2016 against Isner
-Two finals, lost to Djokovic in 2015
-First competed in 2006
-Out in third round of Indian Wells to Zverev
-Can beat the best players, just struggling to put together a deep tournament run
-Seems to be playing at around a top 20 level, could make a good run depending on the draw
-Received a wildcard
Roger Federer
-Switzerland
-40 years old
-World number 15
-20 grand slams (6x AUS, 1x RG, 8x Wim, 5x US)
-One Paris Masters victory in 2011 against Tsonga
-First competed in 2000
-Knee injury, hasn’t played since Wimbledon
-Won’t compete
Previous Finalists
Alexander Zverev (4)
-Germany
-24 years old
-World number four
-US Open Finalist (2020)
-One Paris Masters final in 2020 lost to Medvedev
-First played in 2017
-Made the quarterfinal of Indian Wells, but lost to Fritz
-Decent form, potential fatigue
-Strong favourite
Denis Shapovalov
-Canada
-22 years old
-World number 13
-Wimbledon semifinalist (2021)
-One Paris Masters final in 2019, lost to Djokovic
-First played in 2017
-Out in third round of Indian Wells to Karatsev
-not on great form
-Unlikely to replicate former success, but don’t count him out
Filip Krajinovic
-Serbia
-29 years old
-World number 40
-Not much grand slam success
-One Paris Masters final in 2019, lost to Sock
-First played in 2017
-Out in third round of Indian Wells to Medvedev
-not on great form
-Unlikely to go far into the tournament
John Isner
-USA
-36 years old
-World number 26
-2018 Wimbledon semifinalist
-One Paris Masters final in 2018, lost to Murray
-First played in 2009
-Out in third round of Indian Wells to Sinner
-Poor form
Milos Raonic
-Canada
-30 years old
-World number 47
-2016 Wimbledon finalist
-One Paris Masters final in 2014, lost to Djokovic
-First played in 2011
-Poor season, struggling with injury
Gael Monfils (16)
-France
-35 years old
-World number 21
-Two time grand slam semifinalist
-Two Paris Masters finals, lost to Soderling in 2010, lost to Djokovic in 2009
-First played in 2004
-Out in fourth round of Indian Wells to Zverev
-Decent season
-Should finish somewhere from the third round to the quarterfinal
Rafael Nadal
-Spain
-35 years old
-World number five
-20 grand slams (1x AUS, 13x RG, 2x Wim, 4x US)
-One Paris Masters final in 2007, lost to Nalbandian
-First competed in 2003
-Foot injury
-Won’t compete
Top 10 players
Stefanos Tsitsipas (3)
-Greece
-23 years old
-World number three
-Roland Garros Finalist (2021)
-One Paris Masters quarterfinal in 2019, lost to Djokovic
-First played in 2018
-Made the quarterfinal at Indian Wells, lost to Basilashvili
-Average form
-Outsider favourite
Andrey Rublev (5)
-Russia
-24 years old
-World number six
-Reached four grand slam quarter finals
-Never gone beyond the third round
-First played in 2017
-Out in the third round of Indian Wells, lost to Paul
-Poor form
-Outsider
Matteo Berrettini (6)
-Italy
-25 years old
-world number seven
-Wimbledon finalist (2021)
-Never gone beyond the second round
-First played in 2019
-Out in the third round of Indian Wells, lost to Fritz
-Average form
-Outsider
Casper Ruud (7)
-Norway
-22 years old
-World number eight
-Not much grand slam success
-Never gone past round one
-First played in 2019
-Out in the fourth round of Indian Wells, lost to Schwatzman
-Decent form
-Outsider
Dominic Thiem
-Austria
-28 years old
-World number nine
-One grand slam (US Open 2020)
-One Paris Masters semifinal in 2018, lost to Khachanov
-First competed in 2014
-Wrist injury this year
-Won’t compete
Hubert Hurkacz (8)
-Poland
-24 years old
-World number ten
-Wimbledon semifinalist (2021)
-Never been beyond round one
-First competed in 2019
-Made the quarterfinal at Indian Wells, lost to Dimitrov
-Average form
-Outsider
Indian Wells Success Stories
Cameron Norrie (11)
-Great Britain
-26 years old
-World number 14
-Not much grand slam success
-Never been beyond round one
-First competed 2019
-Won Indian Wells, beating Basilashvili
-Good form
-Outsider
Nikoloz Basilashvili
-Georgia
-29 years old
-World number 25
-Not much grand slam success
-Never been beyond round two
-First competed in 2016
-Made the final in Indian Wells, lost to Norrie
-Good form
-Outsider
Grigor Dimitrov
-Bulgaria
-30 years old
-World number 22
-Three grand slam semifinals (AU 2017, Wim 2014, US 2019)
-One Paris Masters semifinal in 2019, lost to Djokovic
-First competed in 2012
-Made the semifinal at Indian Wells, lost to Norrie
-Good form
-Outsider
Taylor Fritz
-USA
-23 years old
-World number 28
-Not much grand slam success
-Never beyond round two
-First competed in 2016
-Made the semifinal at Indian Wells, lost to Basilashvili
-Good form
-Outsider
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