Paris (AFP)
Novak Djokovic won Sunday without shaking his fifth title at the Masters 1000 in Paris by beating the Canadian Denis Shapovalov (28th World) 6-3, 6-4 in 1:05.
"I felt better and better and more confident over the tournament, I did not lose a set, it was a great tournament," said Djokovic just before receiving the trophy from Marat Safin, triple winner in Paris (2000, 2002, 2004).
"I was very confident, especially in the last three days, which is very encouraging in the perspective of the Masters," added the Serb.
At the age of 32, he won his 34th Masters 1000 trophy and is now only one full length away from Rafael Nadal, to whom he will finish on Monday the world No.1 spot. He will, however, have the opportunity to recover at the end of year Masters which brings together the 8 best players of the season in London (10-17 November).
Djokovic, appeared very weakened by a big cold at his entry on the grid on Wednesday, nevertheless won his fifth title of the season: two Grand Slams (Australia and Wimbledon), two Masters 1000 (Madrid and Paris), as well as the ATP 500 of Tokyo.
In total in his career, he now has 77 titles, including 16 Grand Slams.
On Sunday, Shapovalov, who had benefited the day before Nadal's withdrawal to qualify for his first Masters 1000 final, could never put Djokovic in danger.
In total, the 20-year-old Canadian got only one break point, 3-4 and 30-40 in the second run ... he did not convert.
He will nonetheless be Monday's World 15, the best ranking of his young career.
© 2019 AFP