Each week, Baseline will take a look at a player who has thrived at one of the stops on the ATP and WTA tours during their career. (Photos: Getty Images)
Despite all of their amazing accomplishments, Roger Federer and Andy Murray each only have one Masters title in Paris to their credit. They’re a step ahead of Rafael Nadal, who, despite thriving at the other major tournament in the city, has never triumphed indoors in the neighborhood of Bercy.
It’s been far from a near shutout of the ATP’s Big 4 there, thanks to the stellar run of Novak Djokovic, who has won the title five times—more than anyone in the history of the tournament.
Making his debut at the event as an 18-year-old back in 2005, the Serb—ranked No. 85 at the time—reached the round of 16, a run that included a win over Mariano Puerta, that year’s French Open finalist, for one of his earliest Top-10 victories.
As his ranking rose, though, over the next several years, Djokovic had his struggles at the tournament, going 1-3 from 2006 to 2008. His fortunes changed in 2009: After losing in the semifinals at the US Open, the world No. 3 caught fire during the fall. Entering Paris with titles in two of his three previous events, he dropped only set on his way to the final, then defeated home favorite Gael Monfils in a third-set tiebreak to clinch the championship.