Novak Djokovic’s season is over, and so is his hope of reaching the ATP Finals in Turin. The 39-year-old lost 2-6 6-3 6-3 to qualifier Rinky Hijikata in the second round of the Paris Masters.
It looked like it might go his way. He probably needed to reach the semi-finals to qualify, and the draw had seemed to open up after two of his rivals for a place went out earlier in the day. He started well against the Australian world No. 83, but Hijikata raised his level at the end of the second set and through the decider. Djokovic looked laboured and as if he was struggling physically, and the errors piled up until his season ended.
It’s only the second time in the last 20 seasons that he has missed the ATP Finals when fit, BBC reported.
Djokovic cai cedo em Paris, perde última chance de ir ao ATP Finals e deve encerrar temporada em baixa
#TênisNaESPN
https://t.co/jboqftxabJ— ESPN Brasil (@ESPNBrasil) November 4, 2026
“I’m looking forward to it,” he added.
“He was switched on, I wasn’t serving as well and he was just playing out of his mind, honestly. He was not missing and keeping the ball low and just a terrific performance.
“He played really amazing tennis and it was my fault to let the control of the match go.”
He reached the final of the Australian Open and the semi-finals of Wimbledon, but Djokovic hasn’t made the quarter-finals of a single Masters 1000 event this year. His last Grand Slam title, the 24th of his career, came at the US Open in 2023.
Reaching Turin would have given him the chance to win a record-extending eighth title at the season-ending championships. Instead, only Americans Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul remain in contention for the last two places, which are currently held by Frances Tiafoe and Rafael Jodar. Djokovic hadn’t failed to qualify when fit since 2017.
Has Father Time Finally Caught Up With Djokovic?
Nine months ago, Novak Djokovic outlasted Jannik Sinner in a five-set classic that made him the oldest man to reach an Australian Open final in the sport’s modern era.
In August, he was knocked out of the US Open on Arthur Ashe Stadium, vomiting between points, tears streaming down his face, unable to finish off a player ranked outside the top 40.
The gap between those two nights says everything about the year Djokovic has just endured.
