Novak Djokovic suffered a shock second-round exit at the Paris Masters after Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata came from a set down to claim a memorable 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old Hijikata delivered the biggest win of his career, overcoming the 24-time Grand Slam champion in an impressive performance that ended Djokovic's hopes of qualifying for the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin.
Djokovic initially looked comfortable, taking the opening set 6-2 as he appeared to be in control of the contest. However, Hijikata gradually found his rhythm and became more aggressive from the baseline, putting the Serbian under increasing pressure.
The Australian raised his level in the second set, using his powerful forehand to dictate rallies and force Djokovic into difficult positions. He eventually levelled the match at one set apiece before maintaining his momentum in the decider.
Hijikata continued to attack in the final set, breaking Djokovic at crucial moments to complete the comeback victory. He struck 37 winners throughout the match, including 29 forehand winners, showcasing the aggressive approach that helped him overcome one of the sport's greatest players.
The victory was particularly impressive given that Hijikata had considered withdrawing before the match due to a neck problem sustained during his previous round.
"I just cooked my neck a bit yesterday and, to be honest, it wasn't feeling great last night or this morning. But I guess a bit of adrenaline kicked in and I was going to do whatever I could, so I'm glad about my performance," Hijikata said.
Djokovic admitted that his opponent raised his level significantly after the opening set, making it difficult for him to regain control of the match.
"Disappointment, obviously, losing a match that I felt like I was dominating for a set and a few games," the Serbian said.
"Then he was switched on. I wasn't serving as well in the second set. He was just playing out of his mind, honestly. He was not missing, keeping the ball low. It was a terrific performance."
The defeat also ended Djokovic's chances of reaching the ATP Finals for the 2026 season. The seven-time champion needed to reach at least the semi-finals in Paris to remain in contention for one of the remaining qualification spots.
It marked a rare setback for the 39-year-old, who had previously reached the Australian Open final in January and won his 102nd career title in Beijing last month. His Paris exit means he will miss the season-ending tournament for only the second time in the past 20 years, with his previous absence coming in 2017 due to an elbow injury.
Hijikata, meanwhile, continues to enjoy the best season of his career. The Australian has collected his fourth victory over a top-20 opponent this year and moved closer to a career-high ranking inside the world's top 60.
He will next face Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who defeated Australia's Alex de Minaur 7-6(2), 6-3 to advance to the third round.
De Minaur's defeat also ended his hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals, making it a disappointing day for both Australian and Serbian contenders in Paris.
