Novak Djokovic has once again been knocked out early and has missed out on the ATP Finals. In the second round, the struggling record-holding Grand Slam champion was defeated by the Australian Rinky Hijikata.
Tennis icon Novak Djokovic has also been knocked out early at the Paris Masters, meaning he has failed to qualify for the ATP Finals on sporting merit for only the second time in the past 20 years.
The 39-year-old record Grand Slam winner lost 6–2, 3–6, 3–6 to Australian Rinky Hijikata in the second round on Wednesday, meaning he no longer has any chance of securing a place among the top eight in the ‘Race to Turin’.
Djokovic, who had celebrated his first tournament victory of the year in Beijing at the start of October, was knocked out in the round of 16 in Basel last week by Germany’s number two, Jan-Lennard Struff. In Paris, Djokovic only managed to beat his opening-round opponent, Valentin Vacherot (Monaco), in the deciding set.
Djokovic continues to slip down the world rankings
The Serbian is currently ranked only eleventh in the world and will drop at least one further place following Paris.
Djokovic had failed to qualify for the ATP Finals in 2017, a tournament in which he is the record champion with seven titles. At that time, however, he was sidelined from mid-year onwards due to an elbow injury. Prior to that, the last time he had missed the event was in 2006. In 2024 and 2025, Djokovic qualified on merit but chose not to compete.