Days after China Open triumph, Djokovic suffers first-ever loss to Hurkacz in career-earliest Shanghai exit

Novak Djokovic arrived in Shanghai riding the momentum of another title-winning week, but his stay at the Masters event ended far sooner than he would have hoped. Just days after lifting his 102nd career trophy in Beijing, the 39-year-old suffered his first-ever defeat against Hubert Hurkacz, and the result has now prompted the Serbian to reveal his plans for the remainder of the season.Djokovic suffers earliest-ever Shanghai Masters exitDjokovic lost 6-4, 6-3 to Hurkacz in the second round on Friday, October 9, ending a run of eight consecutive victories against the Polish player. The four-time Shanghai champion struggled to find his rhythm against Hurkacz's powerful serve, with the world No. 34 securing victory in 87 minutes after breaking Djokovic once in each set.The defeat also marked Djokovic's earliest-ever exit from the Shanghai Masters, where he received a first-round bye as the 10th seed.Hurkacz, who won the Shanghai title in 2023, acknowledged the significance of finally beating one of tennis's greatest players after years of unsuccessful attempts.“It's a special night. I've been playing Novak for like seven years. It's been unsuccessful but [he has been] such a great champion for so many years,” Hurkacz said.“He just won Beijing, so it's a very difficult task to play against him, but also it is a pleasure for me to share a court with him, to play such a legend of the sport.”Djokovic had little time to recover after his China Open triumph, having played six matches in nine days during a demanding run that included victories over three top-10 opponents on his way to the Beijing title.Djokovic explains what went wrong against HurkaczSpeaking after the defeat, Djokovic admitted that the match had proved difficult, particularly because Hurkacz gave him very few opportunities to put pressure on his serve.“Beijing was great and a very early exit here but it is ok,” Djokovic said. “I had a great week in Beijing and I look forward to resting a little bit and get ready for the indoors.”The Serbian also explained how the match turned on a small number of crucial points, with a single break in each set enough for Hurkacz to take control.“If you lose your serve, it is enough to lose the match, once per set, and that is what happened,” Djokovic said.“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.”Djokovic had arrived in Shanghai after capturing his seventh China Open title, extending his unbeaten record in Beijing to 34 matches. His latest triumph also made him a tour-level singles champion for the 21st consecutive year, adding another milestone to an already extraordinary career.The Beijing title was his 102nd at tour level, coming after Alex de Minaur retired injured from the final. It was also only his second final of the season, following his runner-up finish at the Australian Open in February.Djokovic confirms Paris Masters as his next tournamentDjokovic has now indicated that he plans to rest before returning to competition at the Paris Masters in November, rather than adding further tournaments to his schedule before the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin.“I would like to [play the Nitto ATP Finals]. I am planning on only playing in Paris, so let’s see,” Djokovic said. “Hopefully I can have a good result there.”The Serbian currently sits ninth in the race to Turin, leaving him outside the top eight places required to qualify for the ATP Finals. A strong showing in Paris could therefore prove decisive as he attempts to secure another appearance at the season-ending tournament.The Paris Masters main draw begins on November 2, giving Djokovic approximately 25 days away from ATP Tour competition following his Shanghai exit.Despite the early defeat, Djokovic can take considerable confidence from his Beijing performance, where he defeated Alexander Zverev and progressed past Daniil Medvedev after leading the Russian by a set and a break before Medvedev was defaulted.For now, his priority is recovery, with the Paris Masters offering the next opportunity to improve his position in the race to Turin and finish the season strongly.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.