Djokovic to miss ATP Finals after early Paris exit
Novak Djokovic lost to Rinky Hijikata in the second round of the Paris Masters and will not qualify for the season-ending championship in Turin.
Novak Djokovic crashed out of the Paris Masters in the second round against world number 83 Rinky Hijikata, ending his hopes of reaching the ATP Finals in Turin. Sportstar reported that Djokovic said his plan for the next few weeks was “just rest”.
Key takeaways
- Djokovic lost 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 to Rinky Hijikata in the Paris Masters second round.
- The defeat ended Djokovic’s bid to qualify for the ATP Finals in Turin.
- Djokovic said his plan for the coming weeks was “just rest”.
- Alexander Zverev also exited the Paris Masters after losing to Lorenzo Musetti.
Novak Djokovic will miss the ATP Finals after losing in the second round of the Paris Masters. Sportstar reported that the 39-year-old Serb, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, was beaten 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 by Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata on Wednesday. Sky Sports said Djokovic needed a run to the semi-finals to keep alive his hopes of a place at the season-ending championship in Turin.
What we know
Djokovic, a seven-time champion in Paris, lost 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 to world number 83 Hijikata. Sky Sports reported that Hijikata broke Djokovic in the eighth game of the second set and served out to force a decider.
Djokovic cracked while serving at 3-3 in the third set, giving Hijikata the break he needed to seal victory. Sportstar quoted Djokovic as saying he felt “disappointment obviously, losing a match that I felt like I was dominating for the first set”.
Djokovic told reporters his plan for the next few weeks was “just rest”.
Why it matters
The ATP Finals is the season-ending championship of the ATP Tour and features the top eight singles players based on results throughout the season. Djokovic has won a record seven year-end championships and has finished as year-end number one eight times.
His absence from Turin marks the second time he has missed the event, having also failed to qualify in 2017 because of an elbow injury. The 2026 ATP Finals is scheduled to run from 15 to 22 November at the Inalpi Arena in Turin.
What happens next
Sky Sports reported that two places remained available for the season-ending championship, leaving the door open for contenders including Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul.
Additionally, Alexander Zverev, the current world number one, also suffered a shock exit in the Paris Masters, losing to Italy's Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets.
This loss marked a significant upset, as Zverev had recently achieved the world number one ranking for the first time in his career.
Paris Masters second-round result
Player | Country | Ranking | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
Novak Djokovic | Serbia | 39 years old | 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 |
Rinky Hijikata | Australia | world number 83 | 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 |
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