Novak Djokovic’s Shanghai Masters upset loss came at the hands of Hubert Hurkacz, who beat the 24-time major champion 6-4, 6-3 in the second round on Friday. The match lasted just 87 minutes, marking one of the earliest exits of Djokovic’s season at a Masters 1000 event.
Djokovic, 39, arrived in Shanghai fresh off a title run at the China Open in Beijing, where he won his 102nd career trophy just three days earlier. The quick turnaround and a tough draw against Hurkacz proved costly against the Polish player, who is ranked 34th in the world.
Djokovic: Shanghai Masters Upset Loss A Stunner
Hurkacz broke serve once in each set, and against Djokovic that was enough. The world number 34 converted his chances efficiently, closing out the win in well under an hour and a half. The result also snapped Djokovic’s run against Hurkacz, who had never beaten the Serbian star in their previous eight meetings.
Djokovic did not hide from the difficulty of facing Hurkacz’s serve. “If you lose your serve, it is enough to lose the match, once per set, and that is what happened. It is very difficult to return his serve, almost impossible,” Djokovic said. “So yeah, I did not adjust and it was a really tough draw for me playing him in the first match.”
Hurkacz, the 2023 Shanghai Masters champion, called the win a milestone moment given the circumstances. “It’s a special night. He just won Beijing, so it’s very difficult to play against him, but it’s a pleasure for me to share a court with him and play such a legend of the sport,” Hurkacz said.
What It Means For Djokovic’s Shanghai Campaign
The loss ends Djokovic’s bid for a deep run in Shanghai almost as soon as it began. He had carried a 34-match winning streak into the China Open before capturing that title, extending a streak of winning at least one tour-level singles title in 21 consecutive years. None of that momentum carried over to Shanghai.
Djokovic framed the early exit in the context of a demanding stretch of tennis rather than as a major setback. “Beijing was great, and a very early exit here, but it is OK,” he said. “I had a great week in Beijing, and I look forward to resting a little bit and get ready for the indoors.”
Context: A Crowded Schedule And The Race To Turin
The Shanghai match was Djokovic’s sixth in just 10 days, a stretch that included his title run in Beijing. He is currently ninth in the ATP Finals qualifying race to Turin, meaning he will need a strong result at the Paris Masters in November to climb into the top eight and secure a spot in the season-ending event.
Djokovic’s early exit adds another twist to a Shanghai draw that has already produced notable results. Daniil Medvedev was defaulted from the China Open after his ball strikes hit a fan, while Jannik Sinner’s season ended early because of knee inflammation, further reshaping the handful of contenders left in the men’s game this fall.
What’s Next
Hurkacz advances to the third round of the Shanghai Masters, where he will look to build on his 2023 title run at the event. Djokovic’s next scheduled tournament appearance comes as he turns his attention to the indoor hard-court swing, with the Paris Masters in November looming as a critical stop in his push for a place in the ATP Finals field.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
