Novak Djokovic is the ultimate champion of the Paris Masters, winning it seven times and holding every record at the final Masters 1000 event of the season. Alongside his incredible performances, the crowd in Bercy (it happened in Basel in 2011 as well) could witness some amazing transformations from the 24-time Major winner if he would play a match on October 31, the night of Halloween. Twelve years ago, Djokovic battled against Sam Querrey in Paris and entered the court wearing a Darth Vader mask.
The Serb entertained the crowd but suffered a heavy 0-6, 7-6, 6-4 defeat, experiencing his earliest Masters 1000 loss since Miami 2010. Novak grabbed the opening set with a bagel and stood two points from the finish line in the second. Sam kept his composure and prevailed, gathering a boost and sealing the deal with a better performance in the final set. Thus, Novak experienced his first ATP loss after producing a bagel. In addition, the Serb lost his first match of the season after taking the opening set, winning the first 60!
Querrey’s numbers against ‘Darth Vader’
Sam earned his first victory over Novak from five encounters, firing 18 aces and losing serve four times from ten chances provided to world no. 2. Djokovic stole the rival’s serve four times in a row, building a massive 6-0, 2-0 advantage before losing ground. Querrey pulled the break back to extend the set and claimed it in the closing stages. The American grabbed another return game in the third set, carrying him toward a career-best victory. Novak built the lead in the shortest and mid-range rallies. Sam fought well in the more advanced ones, staying on 20 unforced errors and emerging at the top.
Novak starts with a bagel
Djokovic was the clear favorite, and he made a flying start. He broke Querrey at 15 in the first game of the duel after the rival’s forehand error and held in the next one to cement the lead. Sam missed a game point in the third game with a double fault and suffered another break after missing a routine forehand. Novak moved 4-0 in front after 14 minutes and grabbed his third straight break with a forehand crosscourt winner in the fifth game. World no. 2 served for the opener at 5-0 and landed a service winner to provide a bagel in 20 minutes!
Djokovic squanders the lead as Querrey bounces back
Sam raised his level in the second set, firing over 20 winners and overcoming an early deficit to improve his chances and make the duel more competitive. Novak delivered his fourth straight break at the beginning of the set with a running forehand crosscourt winner. He held with another forehand winner in game two, rattling off eight games and sailing toward the finish line without half an hour on the clock.
Querrey got his name to the scoreboard with a fine hold in the third game and landed a smash winner in the next one for break points. Djokovic netted a backhand on the second, losing the advantage and allowing his opponent to return to the positive side. The American claimed the fifth game with a forehand winner, moving in front and turning the tables. Novak closed the sixth game with a service winner and climbed back from 0-30 two games later to lock the result at 4-4.
Sam held in the ninth game with an ace and stood two points away from taking the set at deuce in the next one. Djokovic kept his composure and held with a service winner for 5-5 and more drama. Querrey secured the 11th game and reached another deuce on the return in the next one. Novak brought it home and introduced a tie break, falling 2-0 behind after Sam’s forehand winner. The American hit a double fault at 3-1 before firing two unreturned serves at 3-4, doing everything to extend the battle. Querrey grabbed a mini-break in the tenth point after Djokovic’s backhand error for two set points and converted the second to clinch the breaker 7-5 and force a decider after an hour and 16 minutes.
Sam overpowers Novak for a career-best win
They served well early in the third set, with Djokovic firing powerful serves in games one and three for a 2-1 advantage. Querrey closed the fourth game after a deuce and created a break chance in the next one after a forehand error from world no. 2. The American squandered it with a loose backhand but generated another after the Serb’s double fault. Sam endured a rally and caused Novak’s backhand error for a crucial break of serve and a 3-2 advantage. Querrey grabbed the sixth game after a deuce and played against two break points at 3-4.
He erased them with powerful serves but faced the third after Djokovic’s backhand down the line winner. The American saved it with an ace and played against the fourth after a wayward backhand. He erased it with an ace down the T line and experienced the fifth following a forehand error. Sam landed another powerful serve and wrapped up the game for a massive relief. Novak closed the ninth game with an ace, prolonging the battle before his rival fired three unreturned serves at 5-4, moving over the top and sending world no. 2 packing.
