A week after capturing yet another title in Beijing, Novak Djokovic faced a swift and unexpected exit from the Shanghai Masters, falling in straight sets to 2023 champion Hubert Hurkacz.
Djokovic’s Quick Turnaround Ends in Early Defeat
Barely a week after lifting his 102nd career trophy at the China Open, Novak Djokovic’s Shanghai campaign ended abruptly. Drawn against Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz—himself a former Shanghai champion—Djokovic struggled to adapt, succumbing 6-4, 6-3 in just 87 minutes during his opening, second-round match. Djokovic acknowledged the challenge posed by Hurkacz’s serve, saying it was “almost impossible” to break, and conceded that a single lost service game per set proved decisive.
Celebrations and Progress for Others
Elsewhere, Ben Shelton marked his 24th birthday with a win over Daniel Altmaier, advancing to the next round with a 6-3, 7-6 (6) victory. Top seed Alexander Zverev, still in form after his recent US Open triumph, defeated wildcard Wu Yibing in straight sets, sealing his 30th hard-court victory of the year. In other results, qualifier Rei Sakamoto ousted the No. 23 seed Andrey Rublev, and Alex de Minaur received a walkover after opponent Alex Molcan retired early.
Sinner Out for the Season
The tournament also lost world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who withdrew in advance citing a right knee injury that will sideline him for the rest of 2026. Djokovic, expressing concern, noted plans to reach out to Sinner following the Italian’s injury-plagued year.
