Djokovic Out of ATP Finals Race After Paris Masters Defeat
Novak Djokovic is out of the race to reach the ATP Finals in Turin, the season-ending event for the sport's leading players, after losing in the second round of the Paris Masters.
He lost 2-6 6-3 6-3 to Rinky Hijikata, an Australian qualifier ranked world No. 83. A qualifier is a player who wins a place in the main draw through earlier matches. The first set score is games won, so Djokovic lost the opening set 2-6 and came back to take the next two. BBC Sport reported that he likely needed to reach the semi-finals in Paris to stay in contention.
The defeat ends a run of firsts. Djokovic has not reached a quarter-final at any Masters 1000 event this year, and he has not failed to qualify for Turin when fit since 2017. Qualifying would have given him a chance to win a record-extending eighth title at the championships. His last Grand Slam title, the 24th of his career, came at the US Open in 2023.
Asked about his plans, Djokovic said the next few weeks would be "just rest".
Other players had a harder day in Paris. Alexander Zverev lost in straight sets to Lorenzo Musetti, and Daniil Medvedev lost 6-4 6-4 to Ignacio Buse, who is ranked world No. 33. Both Zverev and Medvedev had already qualified for Turin before the tournament, so their results do not change their places.
Alex de Minaur lost 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 to Tomas Martin Etcheverry. In a set score like that, the figure in brackets is the tiebreak, a short game played when the set reaches 6-6, and it shows the points won in that mini-game.
Frances Tiafoe lost 6-3 1-6 7-6 (11-9) to Quentin Halys. His defeat was settled by a tiebreak in the third set, which he lost 11-9. Tiafoe currently holds one of the final qualifying places for Turin.
That is where the race now stands. Only Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul remain in contention for the last two places, which are currently held by Tiafoe and Rafael Jodar. Fritz beat Alex Molcan 6-7 (6-8) 7-5 7-6 (7-5), winning a match that went to three tiebreaks. Paul beat Daniel Merida 6-1 6-1.
For Djokovic, the next chance to add to his titles will come in a different season. For Fritz and Paul, the Paris Masters now decides whether they reach Turin.
