Novak Djokovic, the prominent Serbian tennis player, lost to Poland's Hubert Hurkacz in the second round of the Shanghai Masters 2026 with a score of 4-6 and 3-6, thus being eliminated from the competition. This defeat came after Djokovic had recently secured his 102nd title at the China Open in Beijing and was aiming to close in on Roger Federer's record of 103 ATP titles.
Hurkacz's Performance
Hurkacz delivered a strong performance in this match, achieving his first victory against Djokovic in nine previous encounters. He won 82 percent of points on his first serve and maintained control of the game for most of the time. Djokovic struggled to respond effectively to Hurkacz's powerful serves and fell out of his rhythm.
Djokovic faced pressure early in the match, and Hurkacz saved two break points in the third game. This situation prevented Djokovic from consistently responding to his opponent's serves, ultimately leading to his loss in both sets.
Looking Ahead
After this defeat, Djokovic pointed out the challenges ahead and emphasized that his early exit from Shanghai contrasts with his successful return to play in Beijing. He stated, "Beijing was great, and here I had an early exit, but that's okay. I had a good week in Beijing, and now I'm looking to rest and prepare for the indoor tournaments."
He also mentioned the challenges posed by Hurkacz's serve, adding, "If you lose your serve, it only takes one game in each set to lose, and that's exactly what happened. Returning his serve is very difficult, almost impossible. So yes, I couldn't adjust, and it was a very tough draw for me to play him in the first match."
Djokovic is now focusing on the European indoor season, with the Paris Masters scheduled as his next tournament from November 2 to 8. He is also still striving to secure a spot in the ATP Finals at the end of the season and is currently in ninth place in the live race to Turin.
Hurkacz, who won the Shanghai 2023 title, continues his winning streak in this tournament and will face either Lorenzo Musetti from Italy or Zhu Yi from China in the next round. This unexpected defeat for Djokovic, following his championship in Beijing, leaves him seeking to return to form and gain momentum for the remainder of the season.
