Early Shanghai exit puts Djokovic’s ATP Finals place in doubt
Novak Djokovic lost 6-4, 6-3 to Hubert Hurkacz in the second round of the Shanghai Masters and sits ninth in the Race to Turin. With Jannik Sinner out for the rest of the season, that position would currently be enough for a place in Turin, but Alex de Minaur is just 150 points behind.
The defeat to the Pole significantly complicated Djokovic’s hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals. The Serbian veteran, who recently won the 102nd title of his career in Beijing, failed to carry his good form into Shanghai.
After his exit, Djokovic is ninth in the Race to Turin with 2,840 points. Normally, that would leave him outside the top eight who qualify for the season-ending event. However, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, second in the race with 7,950 points, has ended his season early due to a knee injury. With the Italian not playing in Turin, ninth place effectively becomes the last qualifying spot.
Djokovic’s position is far from secure, though. Right behind him is Alex de Minaur, tenth with 2,690 points, and the Australian is still competing this autumn, so the gap could close quickly.
Djokovic has confirmed that the Paris Masters is the only tournament he plans to play before the end of the regular season. A seven-time champion in the French capital, he will need a strong showing there to secure his 17th appearance at the ATP Finals.
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