Djokovic Exits Paris and Will Miss the ATP Finals on Merit for the First Time Since 2017

In the second round of the ATP 1000 tournament in Paris, world number 11 Novak Djokovic suffered a shock defeat to Australia's Rinky Hijikata (ranked 83rd in the world). The match ended 2:6, 6:3, 6:3 in favor of the qualifier, who managed to turn the tide after a poor first set and secured one of the biggest wins of his career.

Last Chance for Turin Lost

The defeat in Paris stripped the Serb of any remaining chances to qualify for the ATP Finals, which will take place in Turin in November. For one of the most titled tennis players in history, this means he will miss the tournament on sporting merit for the first time since 2017, when he cut his season short due to elbow issues. In 2024 and 2025, Djokovic also did not take to the court at the ATP Finals, but on those occasions, he had qualified and chose to withdraw of his own accord.

A Season Without Masters Titles

This year has proven to be one of the toughest in recent seasons for the 38-year-old Serb. His best Grand Slam results were reaching the final of the Australian Open, where he lost to Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, and the semifinals of Wimbledon, where he was defeated by Italy's Jannik Sinner. At Roland Garros, Djokovic exited in the third round, while at the US Open, he crashed out in his opening match. His only title of the season came at the ATP 500 tournament in Beijing in early October, where he defeated Russia's Daniil Medvedev in the final. Meanwhile, the Serb failed to reach even the quarterfinals at any of the Masters 1000 events this season.

Three Consecutive Defeats and the End of the Season

The exit from Paris marks Djokovic's third loss in recent autumn tournaments: he previously fell in Shanghai and Basel. Thus, the season for the record-holder of the ATP Finals (seven titles) will conclude without his participation in November's marquee event. The defeat to Hijikata officially slammed the door shut on an eighth ATP Finals crown and served as a symbolic end to a challenging year for the Serb.

Context: The ATP Finals and Its Contenders

The ATP Finals annually gathers the top eight singles players of the season based on the Race to Turin rankings. For Djokovic, who has claimed the crown seven times, his absence in Turin will be a major talking point for the tennis world. Earlier in November, Elina Svitolina learned her group opponents for the WTA Finals, making the final week of November crucial for the conclusion of the season across both tours.