ZipRecruiter Player Resume: Novak Djokovic set to return in Paris with even more history on the line

He’s already won Paris more times than anyone, but he can set a new record for most career Masters 1000 titles in the French capital. Year-end No. 1 is within reach, too.

ByJohn Berkok

Published Oct 29, 2021

ZipRecruiter Player Resume: Novak Djokovic

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ZipRecruiter Player Resume: Novak Djokovic

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will make his long-awaited return to action in Paris next week, and just like most times he plays these days, the 20-time Grand Slam champion is on the verge of making history in a few ways.

Before getting into the records Djokovic can accomplish in Paris, there’s one he already has: he’s won the Masters 1000 event a record five times.

Djokovic won Paris for the first time in 2009 (beating Gael Monfils in the final), three straight times in 2013, 2014 and 2015 (beating David Ferrer, Milos Raonic and Andy Murray in those finals) and then in 2019 (defeating Denis Shapovalov for the title).

No one else has even won the event four times—Boris Becker and Marat Safin are tied for the next-most career titles in Paris with three each.

Djokovic has won more matches in Paris than anyone, too, going 37-8.

In a bigger picture stat, the Serb will also be going for his 37th career Masters 1000 title, which would break a tie with Rafael Nadal for the record—the two have been tied at 36 since Nadal beat Djokovic in the final of Rome in May.

MOST CAREER MASTERS 1000 TITLES (since 1990)
36: Novak Djokovic
36: Rafael Nadal
28: Roger Federer
17: Andre Agassi
14: Andy Murray
11: Pete Sampras

Djokovic already holds the record for most career Masters 1000 finals with 53, followed by Nadal with 52 and Federer with 50 (then Agassi with 22).

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Djokovic has won the Masters 1000 event in Paris a record five times—no one else has even won it more than three times.

Last but not least, the biggest piece of history: Djokovic could clinch his seventh year-end No. 1 finish depending on how Paris plays out.

The No. 1-ranked Djokovic is currently battling with No. 2-ranked Daniil Medvedev for year-end No. 1, and the scenarios for Paris should be officially announced in the coming days. If Djokovic is able to clinch it, he would break a tie with his idol, Pete Sampras, for most year-end No. 1 finishes in ATP rankings history.

MOST YEAR-END NO. 1 FINISHES IN ATP RANKINGS HISTORY (since 1973)
6: Novak Djokovic (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2020)
6: Pete Sampras (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998)
5: Rafael Nadal (2008, 2010, 2013, 2017, 2019)
5: Roger Federer (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009)
5: Jimmy Connors (1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978)