# Djokovic Misses ATP Finals as World No 1 Zverev Suffers Paris Exit Novak Djokovic fails to qualify for Turin while Alexander Zverev loses his debut match as world number one. - **Source:** [Sky Sports – Tennis](https://www.skysports.com/tennis) - **Published:** 2026-11-04 - **Topic:** [sports](https://brifing.si/c/sports) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/acab2778-f0f5-465a-8866-0f5381b6ceb3 ## Djokovic Misses Turin Qualification Novak Djokovic has failed to qualify for the season-ending ATP Finals for only the second time in twenty seasons. The 39-year-old needed a semi-final run in Paris to secure his spot but suffered a 2-6, 3-6, 3-6 defeat against world number 83 Rinky Hijikata in the tournament's second round. ## Zverev's Difficult Debut Ranking Alexander Zverev suffered a 7-6, 6-2 defeat against Lorenzo Musetti in his first match since reaching the world number one ranking. The German, who won the French and US Opens this year, blew a 5-2 lead in the opening tie-break, marking a historic loss for a newly crowned top-ranked player. ## Hijikata's Tactical Aggression Rinky Hijikata overcame a slow start to defeat the seven-time Paris champion. After being outplayed in the opening set, the Australian increased his aggression and utilized blistering forehand winners to dominate the final two sets. Djokovic notably missed three break opportunities at 2-1 in the deciding set of the match. ## Musetti's Resurgence in Paris Lorenzo Musetti continued his recent resurgence by defeating Zverev for the fourth time in six career meetings. The 24-year-old Italian overcame a 1-4 deficit in the first-set tie-break and secured two crucial breaks in the second set. Musetti has struggled with injuries throughout the 2026 season, including an Australian Open retirement. ## ATP Finals Qualification Landscape With Djokovic out of contention, the final two spots for the ATP Finals remain open for competitors like Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul. Arthur Fils has officially qualified for the event, becoming the first Frenchman to reach the season-ending championship since Gael Monfils achieved the feat back in 2016. ## Historical Context of Rankings Zverev joins a list of high-profile players, including John McEnroe, Thomas Muster, Lleyton Hewitt, and Carlos Alcaraz, who lost their debut matches as world number one. Zverev expressed frustration regarding the public scrutiny he faces, stating he feels forced to justify his top ranking despite his recent Grand Slam successes. ## Wider Tournament Upsets The Paris Masters saw further volatility as fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev exited following a 6-4, 6-4 loss to Ignacio Buse. Additionally, Frances Tiafoe missed four match points in a dramatic 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 loss to Quentin Halys. These results have significantly altered the competitive field for the remainder of the tournament. ## Implications for Season Finale Djokovic's absence from Turin marks a significant shift in the ATP landscape, as he misses the chance to equal Roger Federer’s record of seventeen appearances. With top seeds falling early, the remaining contenders face increased pressure to secure the final two qualification spots before the season concludes in Italy. ## Sources covering this story - [Sky Sports – Tennis — Djokovic and World No 1 Zverev Exit Paris Masters Early](https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/13607999/atp-paris-masters-novak-djokovic-eliminated-from-atp-finals-race-as-world-no-1-alexander-zverev-also-suffers-shock-exit) - [NOS Sport — Djokovic Misses ATP Finals After Paris Defeat as Zverev Stumbles](https://nos.nl/l/2638028) --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._