Rinky Hijikata Upsets Novak Djokovic at Paris Masters to End Serb's Season

Rinky Hijikata Shocks the Tennis World in Paris

Qualifier rinky hijikata delivered a major upset at the Paris Masters by overcoming veteran star Novak Djokovic in a three-set encounter. The 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 defeat concluded Djokovic's campaign for the year and ended his pursuit of a spot at the season-ending championships.

The End of the Road for Novak Djokovic

Entering the tournament, the Serb likely needed to advance to the semi-finals to secure his qualification for Turin. Despite starting strongly, the 39-year-old began to look laboured and struggled physically as the match progressed. His opponent raised his level significantly through the second and third sets, capitalizing on numerous errors.

Reflecting on the match, Djokovic acknowledged that his opponent played exceptionally well, noting that he was not missing shots and kept the ball low throughout a terrific performance. The defeat marks only the second time in the past 20 seasons that Djokovic has failed to qualify for the elite year-end event when fit, with the last instance occurring in 2017.

Looking Ahead After Paris

With his competitive schedule for the year officially finished, Djokovic stated that his immediate focus is on taking a break. Meanwhile, the race for the remaining spots in Turin continues, with players like Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul remaining in contention.

Sources: BBC, ATP Tour, Yahoo Sports.