Setting Up Sunday: ATP Rolex Paris Masters features a surprise guest and a familiar face

Saturday marked a sublime semifinal day at the ATP’s Rolex Paris Masters event—a pair of crackling and dramatic three-setters. The first continued the surprising run of unseeded Grigor Dimitrov, who took out Stefanos Tsitsipas, 6-3, 6-7 (1), 7-6 (3) in a high-quality matchup of rare similarity: both boast one-handed backhands.

The second result was familiar, but an equally impressive display of precision and power. Novak Djokovic overcame an inspired Andrey Rublev, 5-7, 7-6 (3), 7-5 to reach the finals in Paris for the ninth time.

"Rublev was suffocating me like a snake suffocates a frog for most of the match," said Djokovic. "He was playing an extremely high level that he possesses, but today he was off the charts, honestly. I don’t think I’ve ever faced Rublev this good." Djokovic is seeking his 97th career singles title and sixth of 2023.

Dimitrov earned his first of eight ATP singles titles in Stockholm ten years ago. But he hasn’t won a tournament since 2017. Interestingly, that victory came at an indoor event even more prestigious than the Paris Masters: the Nitto ATP Finals.

Ranked 17th as this week in Paris began, the 32-year-old Dimitrov has defeated stylish Lorenzo Musetti, super-consistent Daniil Medvedev, eclectic Alexander Bublik, assertive Hubert Hurkacz, and formidable Tsitsipas.

Over the course of those five victories, Dimitrov has shown the incredible array of all-court tools that first put him on the tennis radar over a decade ago—crisp groundstrokes, pinpoint serves, agile net play, all accompanied by a rare and pleasing ability to smoothly cover the court both north-south and east-west. That Dimitrov’s many skills haven’t panned out into a lengthy top five career makes for a lively discussion topic, for no one questions his desire or dedication.

Instead, the questions have come from less versatile opponents who have repeatedly and effectively pounded away at Dimitrov’s one-handed backhand. Certainly, that has been the key to Djokovic having won 11 of the 12 matches these two have played versus one another. Dimitrov’s only win came on clay of Madrid in 2013. Just a few weeks later, at Roland Garros, Djokovic avenged that loss with a comprehensive 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 victory.

In theory, Dimitrov will need everything to be clicking if he’s to get past Djokovic. But that’s only one X factor that defines this final.

Competing for the first time since his US Open title run, Djokovic this week in Paris has faced a stomach issue and also dealt with back pain, the latter triggering a 12-minute medical timeout between the second and third sets of the Rublev semi. Djokovic also played arduous three-setters in his previous two matches, one against Holger Rune, the other versus Tallon Griekspoor. Even for a titan like Djokovic, the matter of recovery for a 36-year-old could well come into play during Sunday afternoon’s final.

Yet for all that, given their history, Dimitrov needs to be both inventive and proficient merely to compete effectively. I suspect he knows this, so one telling metric will be the number of times early in the match Dimitrov makes his way to the net. Then again, Djokovic’s mix of agility and depth is so effective that getting there can be akin to climbing up a hill. One hopes Dimitrov remains keen and fit for the hike.