Nicolas Mahut Retires After Paris Masters Doubles Loss, Reveals Novak Djokovic Promise

Tennis veteran Nicolas Mahut concluded his illustrious career today following a defeat in the doubles at the Paris Masters, leaving fans to reflect on a career highlighted by both breathtaking skill and the longest match in professional tennis history.

Mahut and partner Grigor Dimitrov were beaten 10-4 in a final set tie-break by Hugo Nys and Edouard Roger-Vasselin in the round of 32. The match marked the end of a 20-year professional journey for Mahut, which included a memorable Wimbledon marathon against John Isner in 2010 – a match that redefined endurance in the sport. The result means Mahut departs the ATP tour after a career that saw him reach a career-high singles ranking of 38 and a doubles ranking of 12.

Adding a layer of disappointment to his farewell, Mahut revealed that Novak Djokovic had previously offered to partner him in doubles for his final tournament. “Initially, I was kind of waiting for Novak, who had told me at Roland Garros, ‘If I come to Paris, I promise we’ll play together,’” Mahut explained in a post-match press conference. “In the end, he didn’t come, so it was a bit tough.” Djokovic, currently ranked number one in the world, has a modest 46% win record in doubles play, according to ATP statistics, and has never captured a doubles title at a Masters 1000 event. You can find more information about the Paris Masters tournament on the official ATP Tour website.

While Djokovic’s withdrawal was attributed to prioritizing his own wellbeing at 38 years old, the missed opportunity clearly affected Mahut. The absence of a doubles partner like Djokovic underscores the challenges players face balancing individual ambitions with opportunities for memorable send-offs. Mahut’s retirement leaves a void in the sport, particularly given his unique place in tennis lore.

Tournament officials confirmed that Mahut was given a standing ovation as he left the court, acknowledging his significant contributions to the game. The ATP has not yet announced any plans for a formal retirement ceremony, but is expected to honor Mahut at a future event.