Sports · Tennis · 26 mins ago
Rinky Hijikata beats Djokovic to end his ATP Finals hopes
Rinky Hijikata beat Novak Djokovic at the Paris Masters in a three-set match, winning 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.
The Australian, ranked 83rd in the world, earned the biggest win of his career by defeating the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Djokovic had won the first set but made errors in the third as Hijikata’s attacking forehand helped him take control.
The loss ended Djokovic’s hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals, an eight-player year-end tournament.
Djokovic, 39, had entered the Paris event for the first time in a late bid to reach the Finals, where two places remained.
He had received a boost earlier that day when three players ahead of him in the qualifying race were eliminated, but the defeat left his bid over.
Rinky Hijikata defeated Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the second round of the Paris Masters.
The Australian qualifier came back from a set down to claim the biggest win of his career.
The loss ended Djokovic’s hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals.
Djokovic needed a deep run in Paris to reach the top eight in the Race to Turin.
Hijikata was set to face Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the third round on Thursday, November 5.
- Who
- Rinky Hijikata beat Novak Djokovic.
- What
- Hijikata won their Paris Masters second-round match 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, ending Djokovic’s ATP Finals qualification hopes.
- When
- Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
- Where
- The Paris Masters in Paris.
- Why
- Djokovic needed a deep run in the tournament to qualify for the ATP Finals, but the defeat ended his bid.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Djokovic beat Basel champion Valentin Vacherot in three sets.
Frances Tiafoe, Rafael Jodar and Alex de Minaur exited the tournament, boosting Djokovic’s qualification chances.
Hijikata defeated Djokovic in the second round, ending Djokovic’s ATP Finals qualification bid.
Hijikata was due to face Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the third round.
- Match score
- Hijikata won 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
- Tournament round
- Second round of the Paris Masters
- Hijikata’s ranking
- World No. 83
- Djokovic’s age
- 39
- ATP Finals qualification
- Djokovic could no longer qualify after the defeat
7 sources
Hijikata stuns Djokovic to end 24-time grand slam champ's ATP Finals chances
Rolex Paris Masters 2026 | Novak Djokovic plaide coupable : "J'ai perdu le contrôle un peu tout seul"
Rinky Hijikata reacts after ending Novak Djokovic’s ATP Finals bid in Paris Masters upset
Novak Djokovic’s ATP Finals hopes brought to stunning end in huge Paris shock
Novak Djokovic’s ATP Finals hopes brought to stunning end in huge Paris shock
Djokovic - Hijikata, ATP 1000, Rolex Paris Masters, Deuxième tour : 3-6 Jeu, set et match Hijikata
Hot Shot: How did Hijikata win this point vs. Djokovic in Paris 2026
What people are saying
It took a lot; I was getting outplayed for the first set and a little bit.
Well, Novak [Djokovic] didn’t really play poorly at all; this was Hijikata just absolutely firing on all cylinders.