Hijikata stuns Djokovic to end 24-time grand slam champ's ATP Finals chances
Rinky Hijikata has pulled off a stunning upset over 24-time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic, eliminating him from the Paris Masters and ending his hopes of qualifying for the end-of-year ATP Finals.
Rinky Hijikata stunned 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, eliminating him from the Paris Masters and thwarting Djokovic's chances of qualifying for the ATP Finals. Meanwhile, the Australian number one ranked player, Alex de Minaur, suffered a surprise defeat to Tomas Martin Etcheverry, an Argentine ranked 31st in the world.
Etcheverry claimed his first ever victory over a top-10 player, defeating De Minaur 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 in the Paris Masters. Hijikata's impressive performance involved cracking 37 winners, including a record-breaking 29 forehand shots, as he secured a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 comeback victory. Djokovic, finding Hijikata to be an inspired opponent, conceded, "I wasn't even close to his level in that set.
I couldn't touch his serve either, he was acing me for fun." De Minaur's inconsistent form throughout the tournament ultimately proved too much, as he lost to Etcheverry, now standing at ninth place in the live Race to Turin standings, missing out on the ATP Finals.
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