Novak Djokovic suggested he would play doubles with retiring ATP player in Paris but didn't show up, 'that was tough'

Nicolas Mahut has seen the curtain come down on his career after losing his opening doubles match at the Paris Masters.

Mahut teamed up with Grigor Dimitrov, and together they took on Hugo Nys and Edouard Roger-Vasselin in the last 32.

Although Mahut and Dimitrov gave it a good go, they were beaten 10-4 in a final set 10-point tie-break decider.

Mahut cut an emotional figure after the match, and he was given a strong reception after bringing the curtain down on his career.

Mahut is part of tennis folklore for the longest match in history, with his mammoth classic with John Isner at Wimbledon in 2010.

Nicolas Mahut makes Novak Djokovic claim after Paris Masters exit

Although Dimitrov will have been happy to get another match under his belt after an opening-round singles win against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, things could have been different.

It turns out that earlier this year at Roland Garros, Novak Djokovic had told Mahut he would partner with him in the doubles at his final tournament.

However, Djokovic withdrew from the Paris Masters, and it’s now uncertain whether or not he will participate in the ATP Finals.

Mahut explained after the match in his press conference: “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.’

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“In the end, he didn’t come, so it was a bit tough.”

Novak Djokovic doubles record

It would have been brilliant had Djokovic agreed to partner Mahut on the court at the Paris Masters, but ultimately, the player had to prioritise his own wellbeing at 38-years-old.

Djokovic spent some of his earlier career playing in doubles events and he has actually played in five Grand Slam doubles events, winning just one match.

Djokovic has reached a number of semifinals and quarterfinals at Masters 1000 events but has never managed to claim a doubles title at any of those events.

He has a 46% win record in doubles events across Grand Slams and Masters 1000, winning 29 matches and losing 34 across the course of his career.

Mahut is clearly disappointed not to have got the chance to play with Djokovic in his final tournament and had he been able to take to the court, perhaps the result would have been different.

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