Paris Masters tournament director Cedric Pioline has suggested that Novak Djokovic may be approaching the end of his appearances at the ATP Masters 1000 event. Pioline said the tournament should make the most of Djokovic while he continues to play, adding that this could be either his final appearance or his second-to-last in Paris.
Djokovic, who is nearing his 40th birthday, has won the Paris Masters a record seven times and has collected 24 Grand Slam titles. Although he has not added to his major tally since winning three Grand Slam tournaments in 2023, he has indicated that he is targeting the 2028 Olympics, when he would be 41.
Pioline described Djokovic as the event’s record holder and urged fans to appreciate his presence. The former world No. 5 made his comments during his pre-tournament press conference.
Djokovic could also benefit from changes to the tournament conditions. Pioline said the courts are playing noticeably faster than they did last year, when the event’s speed index dropped from 45 in 2024 to 35. The organisers requested quicker conditions after being surprised by the slow pace in the previous edition.
According to Pioline, the organisers aimed to bring the court conditions closer to those used in Turin, with a target speed index of around 40. He added that players appeared satisfied with the adjustment, while acknowledging that finding the right balance was difficult.
Faster courts could help Djokovic shorten rallies and win more free points on serve as he attempts to qualify for the ATP Finals. However, the impact of the change will only become clear during his campaign in Paris. Djokovic was beaten by Jan-Lennard Struff on the faster courts in Basel last week.
Sources: Tennis365.