The summer of 2026 was a lost one for Novak Djokovic, arguably the greatest player ever, but he is nearly 40 years old. His skills remain excellent, but his stamina does not. That is where he has suffered most in 2026.
Still, he was able to win the 2026 China Open, a tournament in which he has never lost, and has a 34-0 record, to keep his streak alive of winning at least one tournament every year since 2006. Could he also win his eighth Paris Masters?
Rinky Hijikata was not going to make it easy to get past the second round, at least. Djokovic took the first set fairly straightforwardly, 6-2, but even by the end of the opener, he appeared to have growing frustration with his form. The second set wouldn't ease his anger because every game was tight.
Ricky Hijikata shocks Novak Djokovic in the second round of the 2026 Paris Masters
Hijikata was a 25-year-old qualifier with nothing to lose, and he kept playing his game, trying to take advantage of well-placed groundstrokes from both wings, though he did not possess elite power. He was basically trying to beat Djokovic at his own game, a difficult task, but Hijikata was at least giving himself a chance.
Knowing how much Djokovic had struggled with endurance in 2026, perhaps Hijikata's game plan was to extend rallies as much as possible in hopes that the Serbian great would get tired. No one could have argued with that approach.
After clinging to service holds through much of the second set, Djokovic was broken at 3-4. Hijikata forced a third and final set and had to feel excellent because Djokovic wasn't playing poorly; Hijikata was just playing a bit better.
The two players had met twice before, so Djokovic wasn't facing an unknown foe. Hijikata had never won a set in their matches, however. That changed when he took the second set 6-3. In the set, Hijikata hit 18 winners. Djokovic hit only four.
The third set didn't see Hijikata wilt. He followed the same path as he did in the second set, pushing Djokovic on the Serbian's serve and taking advantage of most of the chances he had. He got a break midway through, and by the time Djokovic was serving down 3-5, the Serbian just seemed to want to be done. He raced to the line to serve, seemingly wanting to just get off the court.
Ricky Hijikata earned the victory, and Novak Djokovic didn't lack endurance. The better player on Wednesday won, as Hijikata finished with 37 winners to Djokovic's 18.
Hijikata will next face Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the third round of the 2026 Paris Masters. Etcheverry overcame Alex de Minaur in the second round in straight sets.
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