Hijikata Upsets Djokovic in Paris Masters
Qualifier Rinky Hijikata defeated 10th-seeded Novak Djokovic in the second round of the Paris Masters, 2-6 6-3 6-3.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Tennis
Rinky Hijikata, ranked No. 83 and playing as a qualifier, beat Novak Djokovic 2-6 6-3 6-3 in the second round of the Paris Masters. Djokovic had earlier beaten Valentin Vacherot in three sets in his opening match.
Why it matters
The loss is Djokovic's latest result at the Paris Masters and comes as he is out of contention for qualification to the ATP Finals. Hijikata is the lowest-ranked man to beat Djokovic this year.
Djokovic finished the 2026 season at 21-10 and won one title at the China Open, while Hijikata is ranked No. 83 and entered Paris as a qualifier. Djokovic hit 18 winners in the second set, but the stub does not give a full match statistics breakdown beyond the set scores.
The players
Novak Djokovic
Serbian tennis star and former world No. 1 who was runner-up at the Australian Open this season and is competing at the age of 39.
Rinky Hijikata
Australian tennis player ranked No. 83 in the world who entered the Paris Masters as a qualifier.
The details
Djokovic won the first set 6-2, then lost the second and third sets as Hijikata broke him before serving out the second set. The match came one day after Djokovic beat Valentin Vacherot in three sets in his opening match in Paris.
Timeline
Tuesday (November 3, 2026): Djokovic beat Valentin Vacherot in three sets in his opening Paris Masters match.
Wednesday (November 4, 2026): Djokovic lost to Rinky Hijikata in the second round.
Season Trajectory
The result puts Djokovic further from qualifying for the ATP Finals, a season-ending event that rewards strong results across the tour. Hijikata's win highlights how a qualifier outside the top 80 can still disrupt a higher-ranked veteran's late-season plans.
Djokovic's exit from Paris means he will not play further matches at the tournament, which affects any ATP Finals qualification calculations tied to his results. Fans tracking Hijikata's ranking may see a shift after his win over a top-10 seed.
The takeaway
Results at a single tournament can reshape the late-season ranking picture quickly, and qualifiers with nothing to lose often play their best tennis against established names. Tracking the ATP rankings after each round helps show how these upsets change the field.
Further reading
For more on the sport's latest results and rankings, see the Tennis section.
