Top seed Novak Djokovic claimed a record-extending seventh Paris Masters title on Sunday with a business-like 6-4, 6-3 demolition of Grigor Dimitrov.
Eight days after watching South Africa beat New Zealand at the Stade de France to lift the rugby union World Cup for a record fourth time, Djokovic was himself burnishing legends.
It was a record-extending 40th title at a Masters tournaments – considered the most prestigious on the international circuit after the Grand Slam events.
“Incredible. To be able to win it after quite challenging circumstances for me this week,” said Djokovic, who was hampered by a stomach virus in Paris.
“Basically, coming back from the brink of losing three matches in a row, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
"I was very close to losing those matches and somehow managed to find an extra gear when it was needed.”
For all those three-set travails, Djokovic entered centre court at the Accor Arena with success seemingly embedded into his brushes with the 32-year-old Bulgarian.
He had won 11 of their 12 meetings going back 11 years on the ATP circuit.
And the 36-year-old Serb drew first blood in the seventh game of the first set following the first break point of the match when a Dimitrov forehand went long.
Challenge
That animated the capacity crowd who had been given little in the way of pyrotechnics during the previous 33 minutes.
Djokovic secured the break when Dimitrov sent a back hand cross court limply into the net. And he confirmed the advantage with a rapid service hold to lead 5-3.
Dimitrov, who was fluffing an array of shots off his forehand wing, at least forced the world number one to serve for the opener.
The exchange of the match – a 33-shot treat of varying spins and angled drives – only brought Dimitrov to 30-30.
A Djokovic service winner took him to set point and though he fluffed that with a forehand into the net, two more Dimitrov errors with the sliced backhand gave Djokovic the opener 6-4 after 52 minutes.
Drive
At 2-2 in the second set, another Dimitrov forehand error offered Djokovic a break point. A sloppy backhand down the line that flew long effectively ended the contest after 80 minutes.
Three minutes later Djokovic was 4-2 up and cruising. Dimitrov managed to see off a break point that would have given Djokovic a 5-2 lead. He held on to his service to trail 3-4 and ostensibly keep the contest alive.
But with time running out, he could not fashion any openings during Djokovic's service game. And he who moved to 5-3.
Serving to stay in the match, Dimitrov cracked.
At 30-30, a backhand service return winner from Djokovic brought up match point and Djokovic claimed the 97th title of his storied life when a Dimitrov backhand went wide.
After receiving his runners-up trophy from the French judoka Teddy Riner, Dimitrov said: "I'm grateful for this amazing week. Getting to the final means more than you can imagine."
Turning to Djokovic, he added: "We're running out of words for you, Novak, after another amazing week and another victory."
Djokovic returned the compliments. "Keep going," he told his fellow veteran. "You played some of the best tennis I've seen you play for the past few months."
