Hijikata Stuns Djokovic in Paris, Ending His ATP Finals Hopes

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Rinky Hijikata turned a one-sided opening set into the biggest win of his career so far, beating Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 at the Rolex Paris Masters. The result ended Djokovic’s hopes of reaching the season-ending finale in Turin and put Hijikata into the third round.

The match swung when Djokovic’s early command gave way to a sustained challenge from the Australian. Hijikata said Djokovic was “playing too good” for him in the first set and part of the second. Rather than chase a quick change in the match, he focused on staying in it, holding his level and imposing his own game when chances arrived.

Hijikata finds his way into the match

Djokovic took the first set 6-2, and his level left Hijikata with little room to dictate. The Australian’s response came over the final two sets: he stayed aggressive, kept the ball low and made Djokovic work through longer exchanges. That shift changed the terms of the match. Djokovic could no longer control the points as consistently, while Hijikata began to trust his attacking choices at the moments that mattered.

Hijikata described the performance as a product of sticking with his plan under pressure. “The last few months, I’ve maybe gotten a little bit passive under pressure,” he said. “But this week I’ve done a good job of sticking to my game and staying aggressive.” His account gives the comeback a clear shape: he absorbed Djokovic’s opening surge, then held to his approach rather than retreating once the match tightened.

There was also uncertainty before the match. Hijikata told the ATP website, “I wasn’t sure whether I was going to take the court today, so I was happy I could come out and play.” He didn’t specify further, and the result was a strong response once he was on court. He now faces Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the third round. Etcheverry advanced after knocking out Alex De Minaur.

Djokovic loses control after a strong start

For Djokovic, the defeat was especially frustrating because he believed the opening phase had put him in position to win. “Disappointment, obviously, losing a match that I felt like I was dominating for a set and a few games,” he said. He pointed to a drop in his serving in the second set and to Hijikata’s accuracy as the match turned.

“He was just playing out of his mind, honestly,” Djokovic said. “He was not missing, keeping the ball low. It was a terrific performance.” His assessment captures the tension in the result: Djokovic had built an advantage, but couldn’t maintain control once Hijikata found a reliable way to apply pressure. “I played well in the first set and then completely lost control,” he added.

The loss closes Djokovic’s route to Turin. That gives the Paris result a consequence beyond a place in the next round: a strong start wasn’t enough to keep his bid alive once his level dipped and Hijikata took command of the rallies. Djokovic said, “I should’ve won this match,” but his own account also credits the quality of the response that denied him.

A sharp turn in the Paris draw

Djokovic’s season had included a run to the Australian Open final, where he defeated Jannik Sinner on the way, and a title in Basel. The Basel win continued his record of claiming a title in every season. Paris brought a different ending to his bid for Turin: after leading by a set, he couldn’t hold off an opponent who raised his level and stayed committed to his game.

Hijikata leaves the match with a third-round opportunity and a result that could aid his climb up the rankings. The source describes the win as one of the best of his career so far; its value lies both in the opponent he beat and in the way he recovered from a difficult first set. His next match against Etcheverry will test whether he can carry that aggression into another round. Djokovic, meanwhile, is left to reckon with a defeat he felt was there to win—and a Turin place that is now out of reach.