Paris (France) (AFP) - The Serbian Novak Djokovic, 39, was eliminated this Wednesday from the Paris Masters 1000 after losing 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 against the Australian Rinky Hijikata, 83rd in the world and from the previous phases.

First modification: 04/11/2026 - 18:41

The former patron of the circuit, 11th in the Race, was left with no chance of qualifying for the Masters at the end of the year, which will bring together the eight best players of the season in Turin from November 15 to 22, with the exception of Jannik Sinner (N.2), who is out due to injury.

Djokovic needed to at least reach the semifinals in Paris to qualify for Turin.

It is, therefore, the first time since 2017 that the Serbian, winner of 24 Grand Slam titles, has not qualified for the masters tournament, which he has won seven times and which he has not played since 2023, although he had qualified in 2024 and 2025.

For two seasons he has lost the habit of chaining tournaments, since he began to be more selective with his calendar to preserve his body and give himself the best chance of winning a historic 25th Grand Slam title.

Your program for the next few weeks? "Rest, I feel like it," he declared in the mixed zone.

The Serbian had seen his way clear with the initial elimination of the Australian Alex de Miñaur (10th in the Race), defeated by the Argentine Tomás Martín Etcheverry (31st) by 7-6 (7/2), 6-3.

Against Hijikata, Nole first displayed brilliant tennis in the first set, with 79% first serves, 10 winners (for 6) and few unforced errors (8 for 14).

The battle was much fiercer in the second set, in which Djokovic had to work hard to hold serve. He ended up giving up his serve after umpteenth long draws and allowed Hijikata to serve to take the second set, which he easily closed with a scoreless game.

The Australian made it run again in the third set, before losing serve with a double fault at 3-3 that offered a break point to Hijikata.

Then came two more double faults at 5-3, and the Australian did not forgive.

© 2026 AFP

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