Novak Djokovic’s desperate late bid to qualify for the ATP Finals has sadly come to an end, thwarted at the hands of Rinky Hijikata.
Just as the draw appeared to have opened up for the Serbian at the Paris Masters, with Alex de Minaur, Frances Tiafoe and Alexander Zverev all losing, he was next to suffer a shock defeat in just the second round.
Having battled so bravely to defeat Valentin Vacherot in the very first round, many expected his next match to be simple by comparison.
Djokovic insisted he should have won the match, but conceded that his opponent played well despite gifting him the victory.
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Now, his season is over, and it is time for him to rest and recover ahead of the 2027 campaign.
Whilst his inability to qualify for the ATP Finals will likely sting now, in all honesty, this could end up being a huge blessing in disguise for the 39-year-old.
Novak Djokovic should rest for his last chance to win a 25th Grand Slam title
Novak Djokovic’s chances to win a 25th Grand Slam title are decreasing with each passing year. That much is clear.
However, twice in 2026 he proved he is still more than capable of stringing incredible runs together, and actually started the season off by reaching the Australian Open final, beating Jannik Sinner and snatching the first set off Carlos Alcaraz before eventually losing.
Then, later on in the year at Wimbledon, he reached the semi-finals again, but was well beaten by the Italian superstar.
It feels like for years now, injuries and fitness concerns have plagued this great champion at crucial moments.
Djokovic has even revealed he has been dealing with a health issue which has held him back massively, though he recently admitted he felt like a solution was close.
So, perhaps some extra time off to return fully recovered in Melbourne might be perfect, especially considering he has already proved it is likely his best bet at finally winning a record-breaking 25th major title.
The chances of him accomplishing this feat now seem hugely slim, and Djokovic will be aware of that.
However, if he is to give himself the best possible chance of achieving the unthinkable, playing the ATP Finals and extending his season by another two and a half weeks from today likely wouldn’t have been the best course of action.
