Rinky Hijikata delivered a second-round shocker at the Paris Masters, roaring back to beat Novak Djokovic 2-6 6-3 6-3 and snuffing out the 24-time grand slam winner’s hopes of reaching the season-ending ATP Finals. The 25-year-old Sydneysider, ranked world No.83 and better known for his grand slam doubles-winning efforts, produced what stood as his finest victory with a superb comeback at Paris’s Plenitude Arena.
Hijikata rose to the occasion for a two-and-a-quarter hour contest, blasting 37 winners, including 29 struck off the forehand, as he outgunned Djokovic after dropping the opening set. The performance capped a stunning night for the Australian contingent, even as it followed disappointment for the nation’s top-ranked men’s player.
Earlier on Wednesday, Alex de Minaur slumped out in meek fashion, a result that effectively wrecked his chances of qualifying for Turin for a third straight year. World No.31 Tomas Martin Etcheverry claimed his first career win over a top-10 opponent, defeating the Australian No.1 7-6 (7-2) 6-3.
De Minaur never found his best level, and Etcheverry’s serving proved a key difference across the match. Still, the Argentine wobbled at a pivotal moment in the first set when he served at 5-6, allowing de Minaur to earn two set points. Etcheverry recovered, forced a tiebreak, then showed greater patience through extended exchanges and finished the breaker with a decisive burst, taking the last five points in row.
The second set turned on a single costly error. With de Minaur down 2-3, he tossed in a double fault that handed Etcheverry the crucial break, and Etcheverry never looked like giving it back as he closed out the upset.
The defeat left de Minaur stuck in ninth in the live Race to Turin standings, sitting one place behind Spanish youngster Rafael Jodar. With Paris the final qualifying tournament, de Minaur cannot add any further points, meaning his only remaining path into the ATP Finals is a withdrawal from someone currently inside the top eight. Flavio Cobolli has already qualified and is not playing in Paris due to a leg injury, but he is expected to be fit for the Italian event.
