Photo via Yahoo Sports

Every player who beat Rafael Nadal at the Paris Masters as one of the only tournaments he failed to win before retiring

Rafael Nadal’s legendary career includes 36 Masters 1000 titles, yet the Paris Masters remains one of the few tournaments he never claimed before retiring. The Spanish icon’s sole defeats in this event came at the hands of a select group of opponents, each delivering a rare upset in the French capital.

Among them, Novak Djokovic has faced intense pressure in recent years, with his ATP Finals qualification hanging in the balance as he returns to the tournament after a 2023 absence. This year’s draw presents another high-stakes opportunity, though Djokovic’s early exit at Basel—where he fell to unseeded Jan-Lennard Struff—has complicated his chances of securing a spot in the season-ending showdown.

Meanwhile, Arthur Fils, recovering from a Basel retirement due to injury, has hinted at confidence in his readiness to compete, adding another layer of intrigue to the field. With defending champion Jannik Sinner notably absent, the Paris Masters could once again produce unexpected results, reinforcing Nadal’s unique blemish on an otherwise flawless Masters 1000 record.

Up nextTennis· 3h ago

‘Super proud’ De Minaur takes down new world No 1 Zverev to reach Vienna Open final