Novak Djokovic’s dominance on the ATP Tour faced an unexpected setback as the Serbian star was eliminated in the second round of the Shanghai Masters on September 9, just days after securing his first title of the season at the China Open. The world No. 8 fell to Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in straight sets, 4-6, 3-6, in a 1-hour, 27-minute match. The loss dashed his hopes of closing the gap on Roger Federer’s all-time ATP record of 103 titles.
Djokovic entered the Shanghai Masters with momentum after defeating Alex de Minaur in the China Open final on September 6, a victory that extended his career singles title count to 102. The win in Beijing, his seventh at the tournament, also extended his consecutive match win streak to 34 games. Hurkacz, the 2023 Shanghai champion, used his powerful serve to disrupt Djokovic’s rhythm. The Polish player, ranked No. 34, secured the victory.
“I had a great week in Beijing, and I’m happy with the result there,” Djokovic said after the match. “But here, I was eliminated early, which is not ideal. I need to rest a bit and focus on the indoor events.” The Serbian star acknowledged that Hurkacz’s serve was a key factor in the defeat, noting, “It was really difficult to return his first serve.”
Hurkacz’s victory over Djokovic marked a win against the world No. 8.
Djokovic’s loss in Shanghai also impacted his pursuit of Federer’s record. The Serbian trailblazer now stands at 102 ATP singles titles, one behind Federer’s mark.
Hurkacz, meanwhile, advanced to the third round of the Shanghai Masters.
For now, Djokovic’s focus is on recovery and preparation, as he prepares for the next phase of the season.
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