By Erik Gudris | Sunday, November 2, 2014

 

Novak Djokovic became the first man ever to defend a Paris Masters title with a straight sets win over Milos Raonic.

Photo Credit: AP

With a definitive performance in the BNP Paribas Masters final, Novak Djokovic proved once again why he is World No. 1.

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Djokovic, seeking to become the first man in the event's history ever to repeat as champion, found himself staring across the net at Canada's Milos Raonic.

So far, the week proved to be one of the best ever in the young Canadian's career. He earned the biggest win of his life over Roger Federer earlier that also later clinched his first ever appearance at the upcoming ATP World Tour Finals in London.

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But if Raonic hoped to post yet another first, this time a win over a reigning No. 1, even he probably knew he would have to step up his game to another level. Known for his massive serve, Raonic has made great strides in the rest of the game over the last year. Yet, even when he had success from the baseline and up at the net, Raonic's game against Djokovic felt like a work-in-progress for most of the final.

Djokovic immediately put pressure on Raonic's serve right from the start. Getting back a well-placed Raonic first serve, Djokovic rattled Raonic enough to force the Canadian to net a makeable volley. That gave Djokovic a quick break lead that soon turned into 3-0 after the Serbian held serve.

With Djokovic again applying pressure, Raonic almost found himself down 0-40 before saving a break point with a hard serve out wide. Raonic got himself out of trouble and held for 3-1. Then it was Raonic's turn to force the issue on Djokovic's serve.

Finding success with several inside out forehands, Raonic would hold break point in the next game. Balancing patience with wanting to go for it in their rallies seemed to be Raonic's biggest challenge in the set. Sometimes his patience rewarded him with a winning forehand. Other times, he would send the same forehand into the net.

Djokovic, now up 4-2, found himself in trouble again in his next service game. Falling behind 0-40, the top seed edged Raonic in several baseline exchanges then used big serving of his own to pull ahead 5-2.

After having his right ankle looked at by a trainer, Djokovic went back to work pressuring Raonic. Though Raonic saved one set point on his serve, a mistimed smash from the Canadian created another opportunity for Djokovic. Raonic, unable to handle a close volley up at net, allowed Djokovic to claim the set 6-2.

The second set quickly became all about Djokovic. Raonic tossed in a bad-timed double fault down break point giving Djokovic a 2-0 lead. Raonic, despite showing great moments, simply hit too many unforced errors, 27 in all, to give himself any real chance of catching up to Djokovic. While Raonic's own net game may be improving, it was Djokovic who proved superior in that area down the stretch as he hit several slicing drop volley winners that proved too good.

Raonic, again the victim of more nearly unplayable slicing volleys from Djokovic, found himself down match points at 2-5. Raonic unloaded on a big serve and then hit an excellent forehand passing shot winner to get himself on even terms before holding for 5-3. That just delayed the inevitable as Djokovic soon held more match points in his next service game.

With piercing precision, Djokovic hit a final forehand winner to seal the convincing 6-2, 6-3 victory.

Djokovic not only became the first player ever to defend his Paris Masters title but he also earned his 600th career win.

With both men now heading to London, each has a lot to reflect on and look forward to before they compete at the elite-eight man event.

Raonic, though certainly taking another big step in his career after his results in Paris, still has a lot to improve on especially when it comes to playing his best in big finals against the elite and closing the gaps in his game that still relies a great deal on that big serve of his.

For Djokovic, his week in Paris proved that once again he seems to embrace the challenge of staying No. 1 and rising to the occasion when it matters the most. Creating history, as he did in Paris this week, is all part of a day's work for the best player in the world.