The Rolex Paris Masters produced its biggest shocks of the week on Wednesday, November 4, as a qualifier ended Novak Djokovic’s season and a rising Italian knocked out the brand-new world No. 1. Everything below comes from the ATP Tour’s results report and its match stories.

Hijikata ends Djokovic’s season

Rinky Hijikata, a qualifier ranked No. 83, beat the record seven-time champion 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in two hours and 13 minutes to reach the third round, according to the ATP. It was his first win over Djokovic in three meetings, his fourth career win over a top-20 player (all in 2026), and it made him the lowest-ranked player to beat the Serbian this year. Hijikata saved all three break points he faced in the final set, and his 29th forehand winner closed out the match.

The result also ended Djokovic’s hopes of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals. He needed a run to the semifinals in Paris to stay alive. Djokovic reached the Australian Open final in January and won his 102nd tour-level title in Beijing last month. “Disappointment, obviously, losing a match that I felt like I was dominating for a set and a few games,” Djokovic said. “He was just playing out of his mind, honestly… I should’ve won this match.”

Hijikata said he had not been sure he would take the court at all. “I was just trying to hang tough as much as I could,” he said, adding that his key this week has been to “impose my game as much as I can and back myself in the big moments.”

Musetti beats the new No. 1

Lorenzo Musetti ousted top seed Alexander Zverev 7-6(5), 6-2. Zverev was competing for the first time since becoming the 30th man to rise to No. 1 in the rankings, and he led 5/2 in the first-set tiebreak before Musetti won five straight points. “The key was to stay there at 5/2,” Musetti said. Per the ATP, he has now won eight of his last nine tour-level matches and ended a four-year title drought in Lyon last month. He next plays French home hope Luca Van Assche, who beat 15th seed Learner Tien 7-6(4), 6-4.

Other results to know

  • Carlos Alcaraz beat Alex Michelsen 7-6(4), 6-3.
  • Arthur Fils beat qualifier Tomas Machac 6-3, 7-6(4).
  • Quentin Halys saved four match points to beat Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(9).
  • Taylor Fritz edged qualifier Alex Molcan 6-7(6), 7-5, 7-6(5).
  • Tommy Paul beat Daniel Merida 6-1, 6-1 and will face Halys next.
  • Daniil Medvedev lost to Ignacio Buse 6-4, 6-4, and Alex de Minaur lost to Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6(2), 6-3.

The race for Turin

The upsets reshaped the race for the season-ending ATP Finals. Halys’ win over Tiafoe dented Tiafoe’s hopes, though he remains inside the qualification spots in eighth place in the Live Race, and it also ensured Fils has secured his debut spot at the finals in Turin. With Djokovic out, two places are still available. The ATP lists Fritz (11th) and Paul (13th) among the contenders who can still make a move over the final days in Paris.

What comes next

According to the schedule published by Olympics.com, the round of 16 is on Thursday, November 5, the quarterfinals are Friday, the semifinals Saturday and the final Sunday, November 8. Fans will be watching whether Alcaraz, who is returning from a wrist injury earlier this season, can keep his momentum, and whether Fritz or Paul can turn a strong week into a spot in Turin.

The takeaway

Paris indoor hard courts reward fearless hitters, and Wednesday proved it. A qualifier and a streaking Italian rewrote the bracket, and the race to Turin just got a lot more interesting.

Image: Closeup of a tennis ball (2) by Miscellaneous contributor via Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0