Djokovic and the tennis stars promise to 'shake up' the Paris Masters 2025

The last ATP Masters 1000 tournament of the year is scheduled for Paris Masters 2025, with a very strong roster of competitors.

Established in 1969, the Paris Masters is one of the oldest and most prestigious tournaments on the ATP tour. It is also the only Masters 1000 event played on indoor hard courts, offering a unique contrast to the mostly outdoor schedule.

This year’s tournament will be held for the first time at La Defense Arena, promising a memorable experience for fans. Previously, the event was hosted at Accor Arena in Bercy from 1986 until its emotional farewell in 2024.

Novak Djokovic holds the record with 7 Paris Masters titles. The Serbian tennis star did not participate in last year’s tournament in the French capital and attracted further attention by skipping the ATP Finals 2024 despite qualifying.

Currently, Djokovic is listed among the entrants for Paris Masters 2025. However, whether the Serbian player will attempt to claim his eighth title is still unclear and depends on various factors, especially his competitive mindset.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion is currently competing at the Shanghai Masters 2025 and is set to play at the Six Kings Slam 2025. He also took part in these two events last year before concluding his season.

Djokovic’s recent comments that he has a better chance of defeating Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in best-of-three matches suggest he may participate in more Masters 1000 tournaments, including the Paris Masters.

Alcaraz’s performance at this event has drawn particular attention from experts. In his four appearances, the world No. 1’s best result was reaching the quarterfinals in 2022, making it one of the few tournaments where he has struggled.

The Spanish player is generally less comfortable on indoor hard courts. Last year, Alcaraz sparked controversy by openly criticizing the court’s fast speed. Previously, the Paris courts were known for being slow, but there was a noticeable change starting in 2024.

Jannik Sinner has yet to achieve the same success at the Paris Masters as he has in other Masters events, despite winning seven indoor titles, including the 2024 ATP Finals in Turin. However, his first two appearances in 2021 and 2022 were when he was still inexperienced; he withdrew in the third round in 2023 and did not participate in 2024.

Current champion Alexander Zverev will defend his title after defeating home favorite Ugo Humbert in the 2024 final. The German player has a chance to finish the year ranked No. 3 in the world if he continues to perform well in Paris.

Ben Shelton is also likely hoping for the courts to remain fast, as this suits his powerful serving style and boosts his chances of competing for the title alongside Sinner, Alcaraz, and Djokovic.

The list of players for Paris Masters 2025 also includes Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud, Holger Rune, Lorenzo Musetti, Frances Tiafoe, Daniil Medvedev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas, promising an exciting and competitive tournament.