Novak Djokovic’s hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals were brought to a stunning end by world No 83 Rinky Hijikata, who claimed the biggest win of his career by defeating the 24-time grand slam champion at the Paris Masters.
Djokovic’s chances of claiming one of the two final places at the year-end tournament had actually received a boost earlier on Wednesday following the exits of Frances Tiafoe, Rafael Jodar and Alex de Minaur, who were all above the 39-year-old in the Race to Turin standings.
But Djokovic squandered a major opportunity after winning the opening set against the Australian qualifier Hijikata, who found a brilliant level behind his attacking forehand to force the decider. Djokovic struggled with errors on serve in the third, with Hijikata seizing his chance to beat Djokovic for the first time, 2-6 6-3 6-3.
Hijikata, who became the lowest-ranked player to beat Djokovic this season, told Sky Sports: “I was getting outplayed in the first set and I wasn’t close to his level. I knew I just had to really hang tough, had to keep trying to play my game, trying to impose myself as much as I could. I guess in the end I was glad that I could maintain my level for as long as I did and trust myself in the big moments. I just felt like I had to take it to him and play aggressive.”
Djokovic, a seven-time champion in Paris, was playing in the tournament for the first time in three years in a late attempt to reach the eight-player ATP Finals later this month. He returned to court a day after impressively beating Basel champion Valentin Vacherot in three sets on Tuesday, although the Serbian took a medical timeout and received treatment on a shoulder injury in the second set.
Djokovic knew he had to go deep in Paris to have a chance of qualifying for Turin, but a window of opportunity had been opened following defeats for Tiafoe to Quentin Halys, Jodar to Casper Ruud and De Minaur to Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
His exit from the final Masters tournament of the year followed a huge day of shocks in the French capital, with Lorenzo Musetti defeating new world No 1 Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev losing to Ignacio Buse.
It means Frenchman Arthur Fils has now qualified for the ATP Finals for the first time, with Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Ben Shelton, Medvedev, Flavio Cobolli securing their places in Turin and two more spots still up for grabs, offering a chance to Americans Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul.
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