What changed
Novak Djokovic lost 6-4, 6-3 to Hubert Hurkacz in the second round of the Shanghai Masters. The defeat came three days after Djokovic won the China Open in Beijing, ending an 11-month wait for his 102nd career title.
Hurkacz, ranked 34th, won in 87 minutes. It was his first victory over Djokovic in nine meetings.
Why it matters
Djokovic is 39, and this was his sixth match in 10 days. The schedule makes the result striking, but the match itself was decided by something simpler: Hurkacz earned one break of serve in each set and protected his own.
Beijing had lifted Djokovic to ninth in the race for the ATP Finals. Shanghai gives him no room for another early exit. He now needs a strong run at November’s Paris Masters to move into the top eight.
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