Novak Djokovic’s winning run in China ended with a surprise second-round defeat at the Shanghai Masters on Friday (Oct 9). Hubert Hurkacz beat the former World No. 1 6-4, 6-3 in 87 minutes.
From Beijing title to Shanghai exit
Djokovic arrived in Shanghai after winning a record seventh China Open title in Beijing. He beat Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals and reached the final after Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from their controversial semi-final. The 39-year-old then took the title when Alex de Minaur retired injured from the final while trailing 7-6(3), 0-1.
Hurkacz sets the pace
Djokovic could not carry that form into Shanghai and struggled to find his rhythm against a confident Hurkacz, who combined powerful serving with aggressive baseline play. A key moment came in the third game of the opening set, when Hurkacz saved two break points to hold Djokovic off. He built on that with strong serving and accurate groundstrokes, making it hard for Djokovic to control the rallies.
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Djokovic appeared to lack energy after his busy week in Beijing and struggled to match his opponent’s intensity. Hurkacz took the first set and stayed in control through the second, winning in straight sets and giving the four-time Shanghai Masters champion no opening to recover.
What’s next
Hurkacz will meet either Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti or Chinese wild card Zhou Yi in the third round. The Polish player will look to continue his run in Shanghai after ending Djokovic’s campaign.
For Djokovic, the early exit is a disappointment after his title-winning week in Beijing. While his China Open victory showed his quality and experience, the defeat in Shanghai showed how hard it can be to sustain the same level across back-to-back tournaments.
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