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Rinky Hijikata Shocks Novak Djokovic, Ending His ATP Finals Hopes at Paris Masters

Rinky Hijikata pulled off a major upset by beating Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the second round of the Paris Masters. The Australian qualifier came back from a set down to claim one of the biggest victories of his career and halted Djokovic’s bid to qualify for the ATP Finals.

Djokovic needed a strong run in Paris to secure a spot in the season-ending tournament, especially with Jannik Sinner sidelined by injury. Hijikata stayed calm throughout the match, barely celebrating after converting match point against one of tennis’s all-time greats.

Hijikata Reflects on His Victory

"It took a lot; I was getting outplayed for the first set and a little bit. I wasn’t even close to his level; I knew I just had to really hang tough, keep trying to play my game and impose myself as much as I could. In the end, I’m glad I maintained my level and trusted myself in the big moments," Hijikata told Sky Sports.

The Aussie also spoke about the court conditions in Paris, where he has now defeated four players: Jaime Faria, Vit Kopriva, Luciano Darderi, and Djokovic. He said the new balls make the surface very fast, which helped his serve, though once the balls wore down, longer rallies became more common. Either way, he felt he had to be aggressive against Djokovic.

"I was trying to guess better on returns. Novak was acing me consistently, so I focused on getting a good swing, especially on his second serve, to create opportunities," Hijikata explained.

Next Matches and Djokovic’s Season End

Hijikata will face Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the third round on November 5. Meanwhile, Djokovic’s season is over as he failed to reach the ATP Finals for the first time since 2017.

ATP Race to Turin Standings

  • Alexander Zverev: 9,350 points (Qualified)
  • Jannik Sinner: 7,950 points (Qualified – Won't play)
  • Carlos Alcaraz: 5,110 points (Qualified)
  • Ben Shelton: 4,620 points (Qualified)
  • Daniil Medvedev: 3,820 points (Qualified)
  • Flavio Cobolli: 3,680 points (Qualified)
  • Arthur Fils: 3,535 points (Qualified)
  • Frances Tiafoe: 3,390 points (Qualifying)
  • Rafael Jodar: 3,234 points (Qualifying)
  • Alex de Minaur: 3,170 points (Can't qualify)
  • Novak Djokovic: 2,940 points (Can't qualify)
  • Taylor Fritz: 2,900 points (Not qualifying)
  • Tommy Paul: 2,825 points (Not qualifying)

Ryan Harrison’s Take on the Match

Ryan Harrison commented on Djokovic's performance, saying, "Novak didn’t really play poorly. This was Hijikata firing on all cylinders. After the opening set, Novak controlled much of the match behind his serve, but Rinky’s effort, especially his forehand, was incredible. He went from just three forehand winners in the first set to dominating sets two and three."

Match Stats: Djokovic vs Hijikata

  • Performance rating: Djokovic 7.9, Hijikata 8.1
  • Serve quality: Djokovic 8.0, Hijikata 7.7
  • Unreturned serve %: Djokovic 31%, Hijikata 24%
  • First serve %: Djokovic 69%, Hijikata 60%
  • First serve points won %: Djokovic 75%, Hijikata 72%
  • Second serve points won %: Djokovic 34%, Hijikata 50%
  • Second serve average speed: Djokovic 155 km/h, Hijikata 151 km/h
  • Return quality: Djokovic 6.5, Hijikata 7.2
  • Break points won: Djokovic 2/11, Hijikata 3/7
  • Forehand winners: Djokovic 10, Hijikata 29
  • Backhand winners: Djokovic 8, Hijikata 8
  • Forehand unforced errors: Djokovic 11, Hijikata 17
  • Backhand unforced errors: Djokovic 8, Hijikata 15
  • Forced errors: Djokovic 26, Hijikata 31
  • Net points won: Djokovic 11/13, Hijikata 14/20
  • Baseline points won: Djokovic 47, Hijikata 46
  • Points won under nine shots: Djokovic 79, Hijikata 80
  • Points won over nine shots: Djokovic 12, Hijikata 11

Harrison noted that while Djokovic’s serve quality dipped slightly, Hijikata’s serve was impressive for him. Winning over half of the points on Djokovic’s second serve was remarkable given Djokovic’s reputation as an elite returner. The 29 forehand winners highlight how Hijikata turned his game around after a slow start.

Hijikata showed some of his best tennis in this match and enters the next round with a solid chance against Etcheverry. If he advances, a quarter-final showdown with Lorenzo Musetti or Luca Van Assche awaits.

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