Novak Djokovic’s hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals ended with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 loss to Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata in the second round of the Paris Masters. Djokovic, 39, had likely needed to reach the semi-finals to secure a place in Turin.
Djokovic began well but struggled to contain the world number 83 as Hijikata raised his level late in the second set and through the decider. Djokovic appeared to be having physical difficulties and made a series of errors as the match slipped away.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Djokovic said of his plan to rest over the next few weeks. He credited Hijikata’s performance, saying the Australian “was not missing” and that he had allowed control of the match to go.
It is only the second time in the past 20 seasons that Djokovic has failed to qualify for the ATP Finals when fit; he had not missed out in those circumstances since 2017. Qualification would have given him the chance to pursue a record-extending eighth title at the season-ending tournament.
Djokovic reached the Australian Open final and the Wimbledon semi-finals this year, but did not make the quarter-finals at any of the season’s Masters 1000 events. He won the last of his 24 Grand Slam titles at the US Open in 2023.
Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul are the remaining contenders for the two ATP Finals places currently held by Frances Tiafoe and Rafael Jodar. Tiafoe lost to France’s Quentin Halys, while Alex de Minaur was beaten by Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry and missed his chance to strengthen his qualification bid.
Fritz survived a deciding-set tie-break to defeat Slovakia’s Alex Molcan, and Paul beat Spain’s Daniel Merida. World number one Alexander Zverev and fourth seed Daniil Medvedev, both already qualified for Turin, also lost in Paris.
Sources: BBC Sport.