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3 ATP Underdogs That Can Stun Heavy-Favorite Novak Djokovic at the Paris Masters

Published 10/28/2023, 6:30 AM EDT

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via Reuters

When it comes to tennis, no one has had an impact on the game quite like the ‘Big 3’ of the game. From winning Grand Slams to making everyone fall in love with the game, they did it all. But, with Roger Federer retiring back in 2022 and Rafael Nadal almost out due to an injury, all the hopes turned up to the Serbian legend Novak Djokovic. Playing in the form of his life, the Djoker recently laid his hands on his 24th grand slam and looks the clear favorite to win the Paris Masters as well.

However, the road to success will not be easy for the Serb. Standing in his way will be 3 rising ATP stars who will be equally determined to lay their hands on the title as well. Going into the Paris Masters, these three players could probably stun Novak Djokovic.

3 players who can stun Novak Djokovic at the Paris Masters

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This year saw the rise of some of the best underdogs in the game who have changed the definition of the game. Going into the Paris Masters, these players will try their level best to grab the prestigious title while giving some tough challenges to Novak Djokovic, who looks like a clear favorite who hasn’t played since his record-breaking US Open triumph.

1. Ben Shelton

When it comes to tennis, this is a name that quite literally needs no introduction. After his glorious run at the US Open, where he made his way into the semi-finals, he caught the eye of fans and pundits. This eventually led him to his maiden call at the Laver Cup, a tournament which was formerly graced with the presence of the ‘Big 3’ in the game.

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His heroics just did not stop there as he helped Team World lay their hand on the consecutive Laver Cup title, ending the dominance that Team Europe once displayed. Shortly after this, he became a clear favorite in the upcoming tournaments.

A quarter-final run, next in the Shanghai Masters displayed that the 20-year-old has clearly the traits to become the best in the world. Adding to this, his wait for his maiden ATP title also ended shortly after he played the Japan Open. He made his way to the title in a tournament that featured some heavyweights like Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud, and others.

His recent performances in the tournaments since the US Open have made him a star in the tennis industry. Going into the Paris Masters, he will be looking to carry his dominant run and stun everyone with his heroics. However, he is not alone which Djokovic should be scared of.

2. Hubert Hurkacz

Another name in the tennis world that has made his way to the top is Hubert Hurkacz. After a rather slow start to the season, Hurkacz has found himself in the driving seat after his recent performances. After a third-round exit at the French Open, he managed to make his way into the Stuttgart Open.

Then, another semi-final appearance at the Cincinnati Masters announced his arrival into the game. Shortly after this, he managed to lay his hands on the Shanghai Masters title, a tournament that featured some of the heavyweights going in.

Currently playing in the Swiss Indoors tournament, Hurkacz has managed to secure his seat in the semi-finals of the tournament. This pretty much sums up his performance in recent weeks and why is he a clear favorite going into the Paris Masters.

With his first-round match at the Masters set against the American Sebastian Korda, he would be looking to get things going in style and drop his announcement in some fashion. Not only this, he would also pose some serious threats to Novak Djokovic. However, there’s one more name that can stun everyone at the Paris Masters.

Also read: ‘Never Came Out Of My Mouth’ – Serena Williams’ Ex-coach Clears The Air On Controversial Novak Djokovic Verdict As Profound Roger Federer Bias Backfires

3. Holger Rune

The third name on the list is Holger Rune. The young Danish player possesses a lot of potential. According to his new coach Boris Becker, Rune could probably trouble the tournament favorites going in. Not only this, his coach also hailed him as a ‘rough diamond‘ and drew parallels with the Serb himself.

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His prominent career achievements this year include winning the Bavarian International title while being the runners-up at the Italian Open and the Monte-Carlo Masters. Not only this, he managed to make his way into the semi-finals of the Queen’s Club Championship and Mexican Open. With a recent change in the coaching staff, he has found his rhythm and is now back to winning ways after making it through to the semi-finals of the Swiss Indoors tournament.

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Thus, these are some players who could pose some serious threats to Novak Djokovic. With the ‘Big 3’ no more in tennis, many thought that the craze for the game could vanish away. However, the young guns have stepped in just at the right moment and could now be a real threat to Novak Djokovic.

Watch this story: ‘I Really Love…’ – Naomi Osaka Points to the Ancient Technique She Relies on for Keeping Calm 2 Years After Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas Vouched for It

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Written by:

Akshat Gaur

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Akshat Gaur is a Tennis Writer at EssentiallySports. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in 2021 and has been writing since then. With over two years of experience in the world of sports journalism, specifically tennis journalism, Akshat is someone who is immensely passionate about covering the ATP and the WTA Tour.
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Edited by:

Shudh.mukherjee