Novak Djokovic will not feature at the season-ending ATP Finals for only the second time in 20 seasons after Djokovic misses ATP Finals qualification following a stunning second-round defeat at the Rolex Paris Masters. The 39-year-old, a seven-time champion in the French capital, needed a semi-final run to keep his hopes of reaching Turin alive, but he was beaten 2-6 6-3 6-3 by Australian world No 83 Rinky Hijikata.
Djokovic, who also missed the 2017 edition because of an elbow injury, began strongly and appeared in control early on. However, the match turned as Hijikata raised his level, and the 25-year-old Australian capitalised on a noticeable dip from the former world No 1. Hijikata later said he had to stay resilient after being outplayed in the opening set, adding that he trusted himself in the key moments and focused on playing aggressively.
Race to Turin wide open
With two spots still up for grabs in Turin, Djokovic’s early exit opens the door for the remaining contenders. Taylor Fritz, currently 12th in the race, and 13th-placed Tommy Paul are among those who can still secure qualification. The result ends Djokovic’s bid to add another ATP Finals appearance to his extensive resume and leaves the season-ending championship without one of its most familiar figures.
According to the race standings as of November 4, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Ben Shelton, Daniil Medvedev, Flavio Cobolli and Arthur Fils have already qualified. The battle for the final two places now intensifies, with Frances Tiafoe, Jodar, Alex de Minaur, Djokovic, Fritz and Paul all in contention.
Zverev’s unwanted record
In another shock, world No 1 Alexander Zverev became the first male player in tennis history to lose in straight sets on his debut match as the top-ranked player. The 29-year-old German, who won the French and US Opens this year, was elevated to No 1 on Monday but fell 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 to Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti.
Zverev had led 5-2 in the first-set tie-break but lost six of the final seven points as Musetti seized the initiative. The Italian then broke early in the second set and never looked back. Zverev was candid afterwards, admitting he played poorly and calling it perhaps one of his worst matches in recent months. He also expressed frustration at having to justify his new status, insisting he deserves to be world No 1 despite the defeat.
Musetti, a former world No 5, described the win as a significant moment and credited his ability to stay composed at 5-2 in the tie-break. The victory continues a resurgence for the 24-year-old, who has struggled with injuries throughout the 2026 season, including a retirement at the Australian Open while leading Djokovic by two sets in their quarter-final.
Other second-round exits
Frances Tiafoe also suffered a shock exit, wasting four match points in a 6-3 1-6 7-6 (11-9) loss to Frenchman Quentin Halys. Tiafoe’s defeat confirmed Arthur Fils’ qualification for the ATP Finals, making him the first Frenchman to reach the event since Gael Monfils in 2016.
Fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev joined the list of casualties, losing 6-4 6-4 to Ignacio Buse. The series of upsets leaves the Paris Masters draw wide open and adds intrigue to the final stretch of the ATP Race.
Djokovic’s absence from Turin will be felt, but the focus now shifts to the remaining contenders fighting for the last two spots. With several top players already out in Paris, the coming days will determine who joins the qualified group at the season-ending championship.
