Djokovic eliminated from ATP Finals contention after Paris Masters loss

Novak Djokovic was knocked out of contention for the ATP Finals in Turin after a second-round defeat by qualifier Rinky Hijikata at the Paris Masters on Wednesday. The loss ends Djokovic’s season and removes him from the race to qualify for the year‑end championships.

Djokovic, 39, holds 24 Grand Slam singles titles — the men's record and level with Margaret Court overall — but this is only the second time in the past 20 seasons that he has failed to qualify for the ATP Finals when fit. He reportedly needed to reach the semi-finals in Paris to secure a place and the draw had seemed to open after two rivals for qualification were beaten earlier in the day.

Qualifier Rinky Hijikata, the Australian world number 83, beat Djokovic 2-6 6-3 6-3, lifting his level at the end of the second set and through the decider. Djokovic appeared laboured and to be struggling physically, produced a series of errors and was unable to repel the surge from Hijikata, the defeat bringing an end to his season.

This season Djokovic reached the final of the Australian Open and the semi-finals at Wimbledon but has not reached the quarter-final in any of this year's Masters 1000 events. His most recent Grand Slam title came at the US Open in 2023.

Qualification for Turin would have given Djokovic a chance to win a record-extending eighth title at the season-ending championships. With his elimination, the final places for the ATP Finals remain open.

Frances Tiafoe saw his own chances affected when he lost 6-3 1-6 7-6 (11-9) to Quentin Halys earlier on Wednesday, and Alex de Minaur failed to capitalise on an opportunity as he fell 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 to Tomas Martin Etcheverry; a deep run in Paris could have secured De Minaur's qualification.

Already-qualified Alexander Zverev and fourth seed Daniil Medvedev were also beaten in Paris, with Zverev losing in straight sets to Lorenzo Musetti and saying he was "annoyed" by the response to him becoming world number one. Medvedev was defeated 6-4 6-4 by Peruvian world number 33 Ignacio Buse.

Only Americans Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul now remain in contention to take the final two places currently held by Frances Tiafoe and Rafael Jodar for the ATP Finals in Turin.