Hijikata stuns Djokovic in Paris to end his ATP Finals hopes as Musetti beats Zverev

Qualifier Rinky Hijikata beat Novak Djokovic 2-6 6-3 6-3 in the second round of the Paris Masters on Wednesday, 4 November, a defeat that ends the Serbian's hopes of reaching the ATP Finals. It was the headline of a day on which world No. 1 Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Alex de Minaur and Frances Tiafoe also lost, while Carlos Alcaraz and Arthur Fils came through.

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Hijikata's biggest win

Djokovic, the 10th seed, took the first set comfortably, but the world No. 83 from Australia turned the match around in two hours and 13 minutes, hitting 29 forehand winners according to the ATP. Hijikata had lost both of his previous meetings with Djokovic. It was his fourth win over a top-20 player, all of them this season, and he is the lowest-ranked player to beat Djokovic in 2026. The Guardian noted he is only the fourth Australian to beat the Serbian, after Lleyton Hewitt, Nick Kyrgios and de Minaur.

He nearly did not play. "I wasn't sure whether I was going to take the court today," Hijikata told the ATP, explaining to the Guardian that he had hurt his neck the day before. Djokovic was blunt. "He was just playing out of his mind, honestly," he said, as reported by the Guardian, before adding: "I should've won this match." Hijikata next plays Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who beat eighth seed de Minaur 7-6(2) 6-3.

What it means for Turin

Djokovic came to Paris 11th in the PIF ATP Live Race and, after his comeback against Valentin Vacherot on Tuesday, still needed at least a semi-final to stay in contention. De Minaur's loss also ended his chance of passing Rafael Jodar. Arthur Fils became the sixth qualifier on Wednesday, the first Frenchman to make the field since Gael Monfils in 2016, and celebrated by beating qualifier Tomas Machac 6-3 7-6(4).

Two places remain for the ATP Finals, which start on 15 November. Tiafoe is eighth and Jodar ninth, with Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul the only players left in Paris who can still catch them. According to the ATP's scenarios, Tiafoe qualifies if either American loses on Thursday, and Jodar if both do. Fritz, who beat qualifier Alex Molcan 6-7(6) 7-5 7-6(5), plays Fils; Paul, a 6-1 6-1 winner over Daniel Merida, faces Quentin Halys.

Zverev, Medvedev and Tiafoe fall

Zverev played his first match since receiving his world No. 1 trophy and lost 7-6(5) 6-2 to Lorenzo Musetti. The German led 5/2 in the first-set tie-break before the Italian won five points in a row. "I played five great points in a row," Musetti told the ATP. He meets Luca Van Assche, who beat 15th seed Learner Tien 7-6(4) 6-4.

Peru's Ignacio Buse, ranked 33rd, beat fourth seed Medvedev 6-4 6-4 and plays lucky loser Nuno Borges, a 6-3 6-4 winner over Karen Khachanov. Halys saved four match points to beat seventh seed Tiafoe 6-3 1-6 7-6(9) in an hour and 57 minutes. Tennis Majors counted only five seeds left in the last 16: Alcaraz, Ben Shelton, Fils, Fritz and Paul.

Alcaraz and Rinderknech advance

Alcaraz, the second seed, beat Alex Michelsen 7-6(4) 6-3 in an hour and 41 minutes after trailing 1/4 in the tie-break, then winning six points in a row. The Vienna champion, still looking for a first Paris title, is now on a six-match winning streak and faces Matteo Berrettini, who beat Ugo Humbert 7-6(3) 7-5. Alcaraz leads that head-to-head 3-1.

Arthur Rinderknech was the first player into the last 16, beating qualifier Mattia Bellucci 6-4 6-1 in 66 minutes without facing a break point, Tennis Majors reported. He meets Shelton next. Jan-Lennard Struff edged lucky loser Thiago Agustin Tirante 6-7(5) 6-3 7-6(3) to set up a match with Casper Ruud.

French doubles pair book Turin debut

In doubles, Theo Arribage and Albano Olivetti beat seventh seeds Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool 6-7(5) 6-3 11-9 and sealed their first ATP Finals place later in the day, when Pavlasek and Rikl beat Andreozzi and Guinard. The French pair have won six titles together in 2026, most recently in Basel. Orlando Luz and Rafael Matos took the last doubles place on the same day.