Novak Djokovic's 2026 season has ended after a second-round defeat to qualifier Rinky Hijikata at the Paris Masters, eliminating the 39-year-old Serb from contention for the ATP Finals in Turin.
Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, lost 2-6 6-3 6-3 to the Australian world No. 83. The defeat means he will miss the season-ending championships for only the second time in the past 20 seasons when fit, having likely needed to reach the semi-finals in Paris to qualify.
Match details
After winning the first set comfortably, Djokovic appeared to struggle physically as Hijikata raised his level. The Serb produced a series of errors in the second and third sets, bringing his season to a close. Djokovic said his immediate plan is "just rest" and praised Hijikata's "terrific performance".
Season context
Despite reaching the Australian Open final and Wimbledon semi-finals, Djokovic failed to reach a Masters 1000 quarter-final in 2026. His last Grand Slam title came at the 2023 US Open. The early exit continues a noticeable deterioration in results, with his 40th birthday approaching in May 2027.
Other results
World No. 1 Alexander Zverev and fourth seed Daniil Medvedev, both already qualified for Turin, also suffered defeats. Zverev lost to Lorenzo Musetti, while Medvedev fell to Peruvian Ignacio Buse. Americans Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul remain in contention for the final two qualification spots after wins over Alex Molcan and Daniel Merida respectively. Frances Tiafoe and Alex de Minaur saw their hopes end with losses to Quentin Halys and Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
