Novak Djokovic falls to Hubert Hurkacz at Shanghai Masters, Le Figaro reports

Novak Djokovic fell 6-4, 6-3 to Hubert Hurkacz on Friday, October 9, 2026, at the Shanghai Masters, exiting the ATP 1000 tournament in his opening match just three days after claiming his 102nd career title in Beijing, Le Figaro reported.

Hurkacz Ends Eight-Match Losing Streak Against the Serbian Star

The 39-year-old former world number one struggled physically throughout the second-round encounter against the 34th-ranked Polish player. Hurkacz capitalized on Djokovic’s low first-serve percentage of 42% and labored movement to secure his first career victory against the 24-time Grand Slam champion after eight prior defeats, according to reporting from L’Équipe.

L’Équipe noted that Djokovic displayed signs of physical distress, including visible breathing difficulties, trembling, and a lowered posture during changeovers. The tournament favorite at times appeared uncertain whether to continue the match before ultimately bowing out in straight sets.

Eurosport commentator Nicolas Mahut described the subdued nature of the contest.

Novak a carrément lâché et balancé le dernier point… On n’a pas eu le combat et le match qu’on attendait. Mais on est quand même content pour Hurkacz. Ça reste une première victoire contre Djokovic et on est content de le voir évoluer à ce niveau‐là.

Nicolas Mahut, Eurosport via We Love Tennis

Standings Implications and the Race to Turin

Despite the early exit in Shanghai, Djokovic remains ninth in the Race to Turin rankings, which determine the eight participants for the season-ending ATP Finals held from November 15 to 22. World number one Jannik Sinner announced on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, that he will miss the remainder of the season due to a right knee injury, leaving the ninth spot in the standings sufficient for qualification.

Eleven players remain positioned to overtake Djokovic in the standings depending on their results at the Shanghai tournament. Hurkacz advanced to the third round to face either Italian Lorenzo Musetti or Chinese player Zhou Yi.

Scheduled Return at the Paris Masters

Djokovic plans to return to competition at the Paris Masters, scheduled from November 2 to 8, 2026, at La Défense Arena. The Serbian player has captured the Paris tournament title seven times previously in his career.