Novak Djokovic has defeated David Ferrer in straight sets to win the Paris Masters for a second time.
It was Ferrer who dominated the large part of the match, but he twice failed to serve out when holding a 5-3 advantage, and Djokovic took full advantage.
On both occasions, the world number reeled off four games in a row to record a 7-5 7-5 triumph, with the two players now moving on to the ATP Tour finals in London.
Read below to see how the action unfolded in France.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the Paris Masters final between Novak Djokovic and David Ferrer.
Not the final that you were expecting, right? Once the semi-final lineup was decided on Friday night, I'm sure that almost everyone was beginning the relish the prospect of another Djokovic and Nadal classic. But last night, David Ferrer put a spanner in the works by producing one of the best performances of his career to beat Nadal in straight sets.
That victory should perhaps indicate that Ferrer is in the kind of form to beat Djokovic this afternoon, but it might be a tough ask to repeat such a display. That said, the Spaniard is the defending champion in Paris, and I'm sure he will be eager to retain his crown.
The two players are currently warming up in Paris. I'd expect proceedings to get underway in around five minutes time.
This will be the 16th meeting between Djokovic and Ferrer, and the head-to-head meeting is a lot closer than you would think. The world number two holds a 10-5 advantage over Ferrer, but the 31-year-old hasn't beaten Djokovic since 2011.
Both players are ready to get the action underway in front of a packed crowd in Paris. it will be Djokovic to serve first.
What an opening rally! Djokovic prevails with a forehand down the line after a 27-shot rally. The next two points are shared, before Djokovic steps into court to execute the perfect drop-volley. Ferrer keeps himself in the game by winning the next exchange, but he nets on the next to allow Djokovic to take an early lead.
Ferrer starts impressively on serve, dominating the first two points and forcing Djokovic around the court in the process. Djokovic replies with a demonstration of his power from the baseline, but two first serves see Ferrer get on the board.
It doesn't get much more efficient than that from Djokovic. He secures a love-service game in around 60 seconds to hold serve.
Djokovic pulls up sharply after the opening rally, but it doesn't look too serious. He miscues a return on the next point, before a delightful cross-court forehand reduces the deficit. Ferrer holds firm, however, and two more errors from the Serbian level things up.
BREAK! Now then, Ferrer has an opening at 0-30, but Djokovic shows remarkable length in finding the baseline with a backhand. However, he goes long on the next point to hand Ferrer two break points. He just misses the tramline on the first, but on the second, UNBELIEVABLE! After a monster rally that must have exceeded 35 shots, Ferrer secures the break with a drop shot that Djokovic has no answer to. First blood to the Spaniard.
Djokovic looks intent on producing an immediate response, and he soon moves to 15-30. However, Ferrer is relentless. The intensity of his play is incredible at the moment and Djokovic succumbs with a couple of errors, but the Spaniard then nets to bring up deuce. The duo trade winners, before Djokovic drills a third down the line to bring up break point, but he can't convert and Ferrer consolidates the break.
This is a must-hold game for Djokovic, but he loses the first point. He levels matters with an easy put-away at the net, but another error gives Ferrer 15-30. But Djokovic keeps his composure, earning three points in succession to keep in contention.
Ferrer goes marginally wide on the opening point, but he is all over the next two exchanges, driving the ball into the corner at the net. However, Djokovic senses an opportunity after a baseline winner, and he earns break point after Ferrer double faults. But like earlier in the set, the Spaniard reels off three straight points to move one game away from taking the set.
Apart from that one average service game, Djokovic has looked secure, and he sweeps to another love-service hold to force Ferrer to serve for a set advantage.
BREAK! Is Ferrer feeling a few nerves? He makes a glaring error at the net to gift Djokovic 0-30. A huge baseline winner halves the deficit, but the Spaniard goes long on the next point and Djokovic has two break points. He needs just one though, and we are back on level terms after Djokovic passes the ball down the line. Ferrer has won just one of the last nine points.
What a 10 minutes this has been for Djokovic. He is completely in the ascendancy now, and he romps to another love-service hold. Ferrer needs to show some resilience to take this into a tie-break.
SET! A serve from Ferrer clips the line and he breaks the run of points conceded. However, Djokovic continues to look superb and Ferrer sends a volley wide to take the score to 15-30. Another mistake from Ferrer - a backhand into the net - then gives Djokovic two break points, and he has the set in 53 minutes when Ferrer has no answer to a cross-court forehand from the Serbian player.
BREAK! How will Ferrer respond to losing that set? He looked completely in control at 5-3. Well he's showing plenty of heart at the start of this second set, quickly earning three break points! He sends a return long to miss out on the first, but Djokovic floats a baseline shot several yards wide and out of nowhere, Ferrer is back in this.
Djokovic's level has dropped a little here, but he still manages to bring up 30-30. An excellent backhand winner from Ferrer earns recognition from the Serbian, and a drop-volley from Djokovic brings equal acclaim from the crowd. The world number two misses out on a break-point opportunity, and Ferrer capitalises to move 2-0 up.
What a point to start the game with. The pair trade defensive lobs before Djokovic moves into the net to put away a volley. However, Ferrer is getting on top of the action again, and three straight points give him a chance to earn the double-break. He is disappointed with himself for not converting a smash at the net, and that anger continues after a brace of Djokovic winners.
Well that wasn't a bad way to let your frustration out. Ferrer produces his best service game of the match, including a couple of glorious forehand winners.
Djokovic responds in kind, quickly sealing three points to move to the brink of the game. He allows Ferrer back into the game with a baseline mistake, but Djokovic takes the next to make it 3-2. Djokovic can still get back in this set.
Djokovic begins his next attempt to break with a sublime cross-court forehand, but Ferrer replies with two excellent points of his own. However, he dumps a shot into the net to give Djokovic a chance, but the world number two goes just long on his next point. We get to deuce, and Djokovic is furious with himself after two unforced errors come either side of a winner. The world number two then nets once more, and Ferrer holds on.
There's almost steam coming out of Djokovic's ears, and falling 15-30 behind isn't going to improve his mood. However, his aggressive approach pays off, with two winners flying past Ferrer on the way to a positive hold of serve.
We are reaching a similar stage to where Ferrer lost his composure in the opener, and I'm sure that is still fresh in his mind. But the Spaniard looks much more positive, and three big first serves help him ease to the game.
Djokovic will also be eager to test Ferrer's nerve by forcing him to serve for the set, and he does just that by seizing the initiative in taking four points in double-quick time. Huge game coming up...
BREAK! Djokovic will be fuming with himself after producing an unforced error on the first point, but a huge return levels things. Ferrer smashes his way to 30-15, but it's the Spaniard's turn to go long from the baseline. It's 30-30, and it's Ferrer who succumbs first, netting to give Djokovic break point, and he takes it! Ferrer sends a forehand wide, and Djokovic breaks back. Disaster for Ferrer.
Like in the first set, it is all going wrong for Ferrer. He has arguably been the better player this afternoon, but he has lacked a killer instinct on the important points. Djokovic seals the game with an ace to hold to 15.
MATCH! Can Djokovic secure the title here and now? He nicks the opening exchange after stepping in to volley into the corner, but he goes millimetres over the baseline on the next. However, two more mistakes from the Spaniard give Djokovic TWO MATCH POINTS. He saves the first, but Ferrer nets yet again, and that's it. Djokovic has won the Paris Masters.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC WINS THE PARIS MASTERS!
Novak Djokovic has won his third Masters title of 2013 after defeating David Ferrer in straight sets. It was a bit of a strange match, with Ferrer looking the better of the two players for the majority of the encounter, but Djokovic was ruthless once Ferrer began to wilt at the end of each set.
Despite failing to defend his title, Ferrer can come out of this tournament with plenty of positives. He comprehensively out-performed Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals, and he matched Djokovic this afternoon. Interestingly, Ferrer opens up his ATP Tour Finals campaign with another match with Nadal.
That will be all from Sports Mole this afternoon. We hope to see you return for the ATP Tour finals, which are being played at London's O2 Arena throughout the whole of next week. Sports Mole will have coverage of every singles match throughout the tournament, which doesn't sound bad at all, does it? Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
