Djokovic’s Paris Loss Ends ATP Finals Hopes for 2026

Novak Djokovic's Paris Masters Loss Eliminates Him From ATP Finals Contention.

After winning his seventh China Open title in Beijing, Novak Djokovic seemed like he was on his way to yet another ATP Finals.

He would have only needed to make it to the semifinals in Paris to get one of those last cherished spots.

But he was eliminated early by a No. 83 Australian player.

Djokovic lost to qualifier Rinky Hijikata during the second round of the Paris Masters tournament after three tough sets.

The Serbian player should have been able to defeat his Australian opponent with ease and seemed to be doing just that when the first set ended 2-6.

However, Hijikata had a massive comeback and took the next two sets 6-3, 6-3.

“He was switched on,” Djokovic said in the post-match interview.

“I wasn't serving as well and he was just playing out of his mind, honestly.”

“He was not missing and keeping the ball low and just a terrific performance.”

“He played really amazing tennis and it was my fault to let the control of the match go.”

The defeat by a score of 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in a match lasting two hours and 13 minutes made Djokovic fail to qualify to keep his chances of qualifying for the ATP Finals through the ATP Live Race to Turin standings.

Djokovic, who has won the Paris Masters seven times, actually dominated the first set.

However, Hijikata was able to rise in the next two sets by increasing the intensity of the attack and disrupting the rhythm of the Serbian player's game.

Djokovic admitted that his performance declined in the second set, especially in terms of serving, while his opponent was more consistent and able to minimize mistakes.

“I didn't serve as well as I did in the second set,” said Djokovic.

“He played amazingly, didn't make many mistakes and was able to keep the ball low.”

“It was a really good performance.”

On the other hand, Hijikata recorded an important victory in his career.

The world's 83rd-ranked tennis player beat Djokovic for the first time after losing in the previous two meetings.

The victory was also the fourth for Hijikata over the world's top 20 tennis players throughout his career.

Interestingly, all of these victories were achieved in the 2026 season.

Hijikata became the lowest-ranked tennis player to beat Djokovic this year.

He secured the victory through aggressive play, including by recording 29 forehand winners throughout the match.

“I tried to implement my own game as much as possible and be confident in important moments,” said Hijikata.

“This week I was able to maintain the game and stay aggressive.”

Djokovic’s defeat at the Paris Masters means that he will not qualify for the ATP Finals for only the second time in 20 years.

He last failed to qualify for the year-end competition in 2017 when he ended his season early due to a right elbow injury.

The Serbian player has qualified for every other ATP Finals since he first competed there in 2007 at just 20 years old.

In fact, Djokovic holds the record for most titles at the event by winning seven times in 2008, 2012-2015, and then in 2022 and 2023.

He qualified through rankings in 2024 and 2025 but withdrew both times due to injury.

Djokovic lost 10 matches in 2026, with Hijikata being the final and lowest ranked to do so in the 2026 season.

Djokovic began his 2026 season at the Australian Open, where he stunned two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner to reach his first Grand Slam final since Wimbledon in 2024.

The 2023 US Open was Djokovic’s last Grand Slam title win, and he was within two sets of winning his 25th major in Melbourne after winning the first set of the final against Carlos Alcaraz.

However, it was not to be for Djokovic, as Alcaraz fought back to inflict the first defeat on the Serbian this year.

Djokovic did not compete again until Indian Wells, where he reached the fourth round before losing in a thriller to Jack Draper, in what was one of the Briton’s only eight wins this year.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion then began his clay court season at the Italian Open, where Djokovic suffered a shock defeat to Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic.

It was a disappointing clay court swing for Djokovic, who also suffered his earliest exit at Roland Garros for 17 years, as he was beaten by another young prospect in Joao Fonseca.

Djokovic then rediscovered some form at Wimbledon, where he reached the semi-finals for an eighth consecutive edition of the event before he was beaten by the aforementioned Sinner.

It was then a North American hard court swing to forget for Djokovic, as he failed to win a single match at either the Cincinnati Open or the US Open.