Novak Djokovic vs Valentin Vacherot Preview & Prediction | 2026 Paris Masters | First Round

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Novak Djokovic returns to action in Paris this week, and the Serbian legend has been handed a tough opener against the in-form Valentin Vacherot.

Ranking points: ATP 1000

Start date/time: 3 November 2026 at 1:00 pm

Venue: La Defense Arena, Paris, France

Surface: Indoor hard

How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports Tennis / US – Tennis Channel

How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / US – Tennis Channel

Tickets: Visit this link for the latest Novak Djokovic vs Valentin Vacherot ticket information

Novak Djokovic vs Valentin Vacherot prediction

Novak Djokovic will be desperate to do well in Paris this week, as he will likely have to win the tournament to have a chance of reaching the ATP Finals.

Djokovic was surprisingly beaten by Jan-Lennard Struff in Basel last week as he tries to gain as many ranking points as he can. He has struggled for wins since winning the China Open, but the speed of the courts in Paris may well suit him.

He has been handed an incredibly tough draw, however, as he opens against Monegasque Valentin Vacherot, who is coming off a fantastic week in Basel, where he won the title. Over the course of the week he beat Spanish prodigy Rafael Jodar, Holger Rune, Taylor Fritz and then Jiri Lehecka in the final.

It will be interesting to see what kind of condition he is in, but the fact that he is playing Djokovic will surely ensure that fatigue is not a factor. He comes into this match having already beaten Djokovic once, in Shanghai last year, so he leads the head-to-head, which is not something many players can say.

Djokovic is understandably the favourite, but it is hard to love him here. We can see this one going all the way, and if we had to pick a winner we would lean towards Vacherot and the value he offers. Our pick, however, is on this potentially going three sets, so we are backing the overs in total games.

Novak Djokovic vs Valentin Vacherot tip: Over 21.5 total games