His victory made Stefan jump for joy, his seven-year-old son climbed the edge of the stand, and that he came to kiss barely the game over, like his daughter Tara, four years old and her hair intricately braided like that of his mother Jelena.

"It's very special, it's the first time that my two children together watch one of my matches, it's a very nice feeling", he explained in French, even intimidated by the level of Medvedev who had just spoken ("Ohlala, what a magnificent level of French!").

Serbian Novak Djokovic shares his joy with his children Stefan and Tara, after winning the Masters 1000 in Paris, beating defending champion Daniil Medvedev of Russia (4-6, 6-3, 6-3) in the final. November 7, 2021 at the AccorHotels Arena Christophe ARCHAMBAULT AFP

After a summer of disillusionment, from the missed Olympic podium in Tokyo (4th after two defeats, in the semi-finals and in the match for the bronze medal), to the lost US Open final, last step towards an extremely rare Grand Slam , Djokovic could not have rebounded better: not only the 34-year-old Serb won from his resumption tournament, but also at the expense of his striker in New York.

Masters and Davis Cup

Djokovic also crowns in the most beautiful way the week which saw him seize a new record in the history of tennis: that of the number of seasons completed on the throne of world No.1.

Since qualifying for the final the day before, "Nole" is sure to achieve it for the seventh time in his career.

Better than Pete Sampras, with whom he had been tied until then.

Better also than his two big rivals, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal (5).

The joy of Serbian Novak Djokovic, after winning the Masters 1000 in Paris, beating the Russian Daniil Medvedev, defending champion (4-6, 6-3, 6-3) in the final, on November 7, 2021 at AccorHotels Arena Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP

By the way, he is also now the only holder of the record for Masters 1000 titles, the second most important tournament category after the Grand Slams, created in 1990, with a 37th trophy.

Nadal, almost out of the circuit since Roland Garros (2 matches played in August), has 36.

This is his fifth title in 2021, after the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and Belgrade.

In total, his 86th title.

In this area, he is still far from the top of the basket (109 for Connors and 103 for Federer).

The joy of the Serbian Novak Djokovic, after a winning point against the Russian Daniil Medvedev, during the final of the Masters 1000 in Paris, on November 7, 2021 at the AccorHotels Arena Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP

He still has two appointments to finish in style 2021: the Masters end of season in a week (November 14-21), organized for the first time in Turin after twelve editions in London, and the Davis Cup with Serbia from of the following week (25 November-5 December), for the second edition of its revisited formula.

At the net, with success

Faced with an infallible Medvedev or almost in the first round (only 4 unforced errors against 16 for Djokovic), the world No. 1 then found the solution to overwhelm him: storm the net - with some success.

The Russian Daniil Medevedev, during the final of the Masters 1000 in Paris, against the Serbian Novak Djokovic, on November 7, 2021 at the AccorHotels Arena Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP

In the second as in the third set, he made the difference early (3-1 and 3-2).

It is in particular on the fly that he prevented the breaking of the holder of the Parisian trophy when he served to tie a round everywhere, in a game of more than ten minutes.

In the decisive set, even if Medvedev filled one of his two late breaks (from 5-2 to 5-3), he then allowed the world No.1 to conclude on his service, at his first opportunity.

"I suffered a lot," Medvedev admitted.

"I suffered a lot too, and in New York too," Djokovic recalled.

Serbian Novak Djokovic, congratulated by Russian Daniil Medvedev, after his victory (4-6, 6-3, 6-3) in the final of the Masters 1000 in Paris, on November 7, 2021 at the AccorHotels Arena Christophe ARCHAMBAULT AFP

As much perhaps as these two fervent Serbian supporters, one wearing a traditional hat, the other clinging to his flag with his hands joined from the very first points.

It was only the second time in the history of the Paris tournament that the final opposed the world N.1 and N.2.

The first time went back to 1990, between Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker.

© 2021 AFP