Novak Djokovic Exits Shanghai Masters Early After Loss to Hubert Hurkacz

In a surprising turn of events, Novak Djokovic's journey at the Shanghai Masters 2026 came to an abrupt halt as he was defeated by Hubert Hurkacz in the second round. Despite entering the tournament with momentum from his recent victory in Beijing, Djokovic struggled against Hurkacz's powerful serve and precise gameplay. This loss not only ends his hopes of closing in on Roger Federer's ATP title record but also sets the stage for his upcoming challenges in the European indoor season. As Djokovic reflects on his performance, he looks ahead to the Paris Masters, aiming to regain his competitive edge. Read on to discover more about this unexpected match and its implications for Djokovic's season.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 10, 2026, 09:09 IST

Djokovic's Shanghai Masters Journey Cut Short

Shanghai [China], October 10: Novak Djokovic's pursuit of Roger Federer's ATP title record faced a significant hurdle as he was eliminated in the second round of the Shanghai Masters 2026. The Serbian star lost to Poland's Hubert Hurkacz with scores of 4-6, 3-6 on Friday.

The 24-time Grand Slam winner entered the tournament following his 102nd tour-level title at the China Open in Beijing. However, he struggled against Hurkacz's formidable serve and accurate baseline play during the 87-minute match, as reported by a sports outlet.

This defeat dashed Djokovic's hopes of capitalizing on his Beijing success at a tournament where he has previously triumphed four times. The 39-year-old had recently defeated Australia's Alex de Minaur in the Beijing final, bringing him within one title of Federer's record of 103 career ATP titles.

Hurkacz delivered an impressive performance, marking his first victory over Djokovic in nine encounters. The Polish player won 82% of points on his first serve, according to ATP statistics, and maintained dominance throughout the match.

Djokovic faced early challenges, with Hurkacz saving two break points in the third game before finding his rhythm. The Serbian struggled to respond effectively to his opponent's powerful serves, ultimately losing both sets.

After the match, Djokovic reflected on his early exit, noting the stark difference between his successful week in Beijing and his performance in Shanghai. He stated, “Beijing was great and a very early exit here but it is OK. I had a great week in Beijing and I look forward to resting a little bit and get ready for the indoors.”

He further explained the difficulties posed by Hurkacz's serve, saying, “If you lose your serve, it is enough to lose the match, once per set, and that is what happened. It is very difficult to return his serve, almost impossible. So yeah, I did not adjust and it was a really tough draw for me, playing him in the first match.”

Looking ahead, Djokovic will focus on the upcoming European indoor season, with the Paris Masters set for November 2 to 8 as his next event. He is also in the running to qualify for the ATP Finals, currently sitting in ninth place in the live race to Turin.

Hurkacz, who claimed the Shanghai title in 2023, has now extended his winning streak at this tournament to eight matches and will face either Italy's Lorenzo Musetti or China's Zhou Yi in the third round.

This loss marks a sudden end to Djokovic's Shanghai campaign following his title victory in Beijing, as he aims to regain his momentum for the final part of the season.