Nadal, Djokovic Back Together At Paris Masters; Final 2 Turin Spots At Stake

Tennis greats Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are back in the same event for the first time since Wimbledon.

Djokovic was unable to play the North American series while Nadal took time off to rest his foot and welcome his first child.

The two are back looking to close the season on a high note and each won Slams during 2022.

Djokovic has won Paris seven titles including last year in three sets over Daniil Medvedev.

“I feel great in this tournament,” Djokovic said. “Lots of success!

“I played Laver Cup, Tel Aviv, and Astana, and I played great, great tennis,” Djokovic said. “Generally looking at my past career results indoors, I have had a really good record indoors generally, playing anywhere.

“I’ll make sure to keep going in this way, because I feel good. I have been training the past few days, is another few days to my first match. I think coming back to a place where you have done so well, it always brings back good memories and good feelings on the court.”

Conversely, Nadal has never won the Paris Indoors, one of the few big titles he’s never claimed.

Both Djokovic and Nadal landed in the same half and they could meet in the semifinals.

Djokovic opens against either Maxime Cressy or Diego Schwartzman. He could face Jannik Sinner in the third round and then Casper Ruud in the quarters.

Nadal, who hasn’t played since his Laver Cup doubles with Roger Federer, will face either Roberto Bautista Agut or Tommy Paul, with Pablo Carreno Busta in the third round and then Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarters.

US Open Carlos Alcaraz is the top seed and sits on the top line of the draw. He’ll begin against Aslan Karatsev or Yoshihito Nishioka. He could then collide with Matteo Berrettini followed by Andrey Rublev. And then the streaking Felix Auger-Aliassime or Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals.

The tournament will also determine the last two spots in the ATP Finals in Turin next month.

With Auger-Aliassime almost in it will really come down to Rublev, Taylor Fritz and Hubert Hurkacz for the last berth.

Fritz faces Alejandro Davidovich Fokina with possibly Andy Murray and then Auger-Aliassime just to make the quarters. Murray opens against Gilles Simon who is playing his final event.

Rublev could meet John Isner in his first match. The American returned early from a wrist injury. And then Rublev and Hurkacz could meet in the third with Hurkacz needing to win to have a chance at Turin.

Fritz and Hurkacz will all but have to win the title to have a chance to get in.

Tomorrow, the tournament opens with Fritz in action along with Murray-Simon, Cameron Norrie and Richard Gasquet on court.

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