Overview
- Novak Djokovic lost to Rinky Hijikata in the Paris Masters second round on Thursday, November 5, 2026, dropping the match 6-2, 3-6, 3-6 and eliminating his mathematical chance to qualify for the ATP Finals.
- The defeat caps a poor Masters 1000 campaign in which Djokovic failed to reach a single quarter‑final for the first time since 2005 and won only three matches at that level this year.
- With the Paris exit Djokovic has ended his competitive 2026 season and is not expected to play again until an exhibition in Riyadh, with the 2027 Australian Open marked as his next likely competitive target.
- The result will leave Djokovic outside the ATP Finals field and is projected to push his year‑end ranking outside the top 10, marking the first time he has missed the year‑end event since 2017.
- The season underlines tensions between form, age and scheduling: Djokovic still reached the Australian Open final, Wimbledon semi‑final and won the China Open, but ongoing workload and health issues raise questions about rest and preparation ahead of a likely final Grand Slam push.