Rinky Hijikata delivered the breakthrough moment of his career on Thursday, defeating Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 at the Paris Masters to eliminate the 39-year-old Serbian from ATP Finals contention. According to The Guardian, the Australian qualifier's victory marked only the fourth time a compatriot has defeated Djokovic, joining Alex de Minaur, Nick Kyrgios and Lleyton Hewitt in that exclusive group.
Playing at the indoor Plenitude Arena, the world No 83 produced a commanding display to surge into the third round and claim what stands as his most significant professional achievement. The 28-year-old from Sydney nearly withdrew before the match began due to a neck injury sustained the previous day, but adrenaline carried him through to a performance that left Djokovic searching for answers.
Hijikata's triumph represented his fourth top-20 scalp of 2026, a remarkable tally for a player who had never previously defeated anyone ranked that high. The victory positioned him within one win of breaking into the world's top 60 for the first time in his career. According to the ATP Tour, Hijikata accumulated 37 winners during the two hours and 13 minutes of play, including 29 forehand winners that proved particularly devastating. His dominance extended to the break point battle, where he converted 9 of 11 opportunities while Djokovic managed only 4 of 7.
Hijikata's breakthrough came despite carrying physical concerns into the contest. "I just cooked my neck a bit yesterday and, to be honest, it wasn't feeling great last night or this morning," he explained in his post-match interview. "But I guess a bit of adrenaline kicked in and I was going to do whatever I could, so I'm glad about my performance."
How did Djokovic's season unravel?
The Serbian champion's 2026 campaign had shown promise earlier, with a final appearance at the Australian Open in January and a 102nd tour-level title captured in Beijing last month. However, his inability to progress past the second round in Paris proved fatal to his hopes of competing in the season-ending championship, an event he has won seven times previously. Djokovic needed to reach the Paris semifinals to maintain his qualification hopes, and his exit left two places open in the field.
Djokovic's reaction to the defeat revealed his frustration at surrendering control of the match.
"Disappointment, obviously, losing a match that I felt like I was dominating for a set and a few games. Then he was switched on. I wasn't serving as well in the second set. He was just playing out of his mind, honestly. He was not missing, keeping the ball low. It was a terrific performance. Nobody loves losing. It's just another match, but I should've won this match. I played well in the first set and then completely lost control."Following the loss, Djokovic indicated his plan for the coming weeks was "just rest."
What is Hijikata's path forward?
The Australian's remarkable run through qualifying and into the main draw continues on November 5, when he faces Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the round of 16. Etcheverry advanced by defeating Australia's world No 9 Alex de Minaur 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, eliminating De Minaur's hopes of reaching the season-ending championship for a third consecutive year.
Hijikata's ascent represents a significant shift in his career trajectory. His previous meetings with Djokovic, both contested in 2025 in Brisbane and Miami, had ended in defeats, making this reversal all the more striking. The qualifier's performance in Paris demonstrates the capacity he possesses to compete at the highest level, having transformed what could have been a withdrawal into a career-defining victory.
