For just the second time in 20 seasons, Novak Djokovic has failed to qualify for the season-ending ATP Finals after a shock defeat in the second round of the Rolex Paris Masters.
The 39-year-old, who also failed to make the 2017 edition due to a elbow injury, needed a run to the semi-finals to keep himself in with a chance of clinching a spot at the season-ending showpiece in Turin.
Djokovic, a seven-time champion in Paris, started well against 25-year-old Australian Rinky Hijikata, the world No 83, but faded badly in a 2-6 6-3 6-3 defeat.
With two places still available for the season-ending championship, Djokovic needed a run to the semi-finals in Paris to stay alive in his hopes, but his exit leaves the door open for the remaining contenders, including 12th-placed Taylor Fritz and 13th-placed Tommy Paul.
Hijikata told Sky Sports: “It took a lot. I was getting outplayed in the first set and had to hang tough.
“In the end I was glad I maintained my level and trusted myself in the big moments. I felt I had to take it to him and play aggressive.”
Djokovic vs Hijikata: Tale of the Tape
Analyst Ryan Harrison, speaking to Sky Sports’ Gigi Salmon, said: “Novak didn’t really play poorly at all. This was Hijikata absolutely firing on all cylinders.
“After that opening set, Novak was controlling most the match, particularly behind his serve, but Rinky an unbelievable effort off the forehand side that was blistering. Just three forehand winners in the first set but he then poured them on for sets two and three.”
‘I deserve to be where I am’ – Zverev suffers Musetti defeat
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Highlights of Alexander Zverev against Lorenzo Musetti from the Paris Masters
Alexander Zverev became the first male player in the history of tennis to lose in straight sets on his debut match as world No 1.
The 29-year-old German, who won the French and US Opens this year, was elevated to top spot in the ATP rankings for the first time on Monday.
However, he blew a 5-2 lead in a first-set tie-break on his way to a surprise 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 defeat by Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti at the Paris Masters.
Speaking in his press conference, Zverev said: “To put it simply, he played really well and I played really badly. It was perhaps one of my worst matches in the last few months.
“I was a bit annoyed the last couple of days because achieving the world No 1 status is something that every player dreams of. But then I feel like I’m the only world No 1 in history who has to explain why it’s normal for me to be No 1, which I find quite difficult because I deserve to be where I am, even though I lost today.
“I don’t think anyone has had to explain themselves as much as I have in the last couple of days, which is annoying.”
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Zverev said he’s felt annoyed over the last few days as he believes he’s the only world No 1 that has had to explain why he’s No 1
The 29-year-old, who climbed to No 1 on Monday, suffered a surprise defeat days after losing to Australia’s Alex de Minaur in the Vienna Open semi-finals.
Musetti, a former world No 5, seized the initiative by winning six of the final seven points of the opening-set tiebreak before taking command of the second set.
The 24-year-old Italian broke Zverev for a 2-1 lead and struck again to move 5-2 ahead on his way to victory.
“It’s pretty shocking the level I was able to play in front of (Zverev), who was serving really well, especially in the first set,” Musetti, 24, said in his on-court interview.
“It was really close. It could have gone both ways. The key was to stay there at 5-2. I played five great points in a row.”
The win continued a resurgence for Musetti, who has been hampered by injuries throughout the 2026 season. His toughest setback came at the Australian Open, where he retired while leading 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic by two sets in their quarter-final clash.
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Highlights of Quentin Halys against Frances Tiafoe from the Paris Masters
In other second-round shocks, Frances Tiafoe wasted four match points in a 6-3 1-6 7-6 (11-9) loss to Frenchman Quentin Halys.
Tiafoe’s defeat meant Arthur Fils qualified for the ATP Finals. He is the first Frenchman to reach the event since Gael Monfils in 2016.
Fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev also went out after losing 6-4 6-4 to Ignacio Buse.
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