Djokovic Admits He Lost Control in Hijikata Defeat
Novak Djokovic admitted that he "completely lost control of the match" after his Hijikata defeat at the Paris Masters on Wednesday. The loss ended the 24-time Grand Slam champion's hopes of qualifying for the season-ending ATP Finals.
Djokovic was left disappointed after failing to capitalise on a strong start, as world number 83 Hijikata produced an impressive performance to secure the victory. Geo Super reported Djokovic's reaction on Thursday.
"I should have won this match"
Djokovic said he felt he was dominating the opening set and the early stages of the match before his opponent raised his level and began playing more consistently.
"I mean disappointment obviously, losing a match that I felt like I was dominating the first set, set and a few games, but then he was switched on, I wasn't serving as well and then he was playing out of his mind honestly, was not missing, keeping the ball low and just terrific performance," Djokovic said.
The Serbian acknowledged that Hijikata deserved the victory but admitted that he believed he should have won the contest. "Nobody loves losing, but it's just another match," Djokovic said. "I should have won this match, I played well the first set and then completely lost control of the match."
The Hijikata defeat that ended the season's hopes
The result was a surprise. Djokovic had won the first set and looked in command, but Hijikata fought back to win 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the round of 32. Feature Pakistan reported that Musetti stunned Zverev while Hijikata beat Djokovic at the Paris Masters, a result that ended Djokovic's ATP Finals hopes.
The defeat is a sharp contrast to Djokovic's start to the week in Paris. Feature Pakistan reported that Djokovic became the oldest Paris Masters match winner when he beat Valentin Vacherot in his opening match, at 39 the oldest man to win a match at the tournament. Two days later, his campaign was over.
Praise for the winner
Djokovic also praised the Australian's ability to make the most of the playing conditions, describing the surface as the quickest on the tour.
"I just felt like he was really effective from every corner. It's the quickest surface we have here on the tour, and for players like him who play really flat and close to the line it suits him really well," he added.
Congratulating his opponent, Djokovic admitted that his own inability to maintain control ultimately proved costly. "Congrats to him, I mean he played really great tennis and it was my fault to let the control of the match go," he concluded.
Hijikata, 24, has now recorded the biggest win of his career. For Djokovic, the defeat closes the book on his 2026 season, with the ATP Finals to be played without the man who has won the year-end title seven times.
The Paris Masters continues without its biggest draw. Feature Pakistan has also covered the next generation of the sport, including Rafael Nadal's Las Vegas exhibition after retirement and the WTA Finals draw featuring Rybakina and Gauff.
Frequently asked questions
What did Djokovic say after losing to Hijikata?
Djokovic said he "completely lost control of the match" after dominating the first set. He added: "I should have won this match, I played well the first set and then completely lost control of the match."
What was the score?
Rinky Hijikata beat Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the round of 32 at the Paris Masters on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.
What does the defeat mean for Djokovic?
The loss ended Djokovic's hopes of qualifying for the season-ending ATP Finals. It also closed his 2026 season, after he had become the oldest Paris Masters match winner earlier in the week.
Who is Rinky Hijikata?
Hijikata is a 24-year-old Australian ranked world number 83. The win over Djokovic is the biggest of his career.
What did Djokovic say about Hijikata's performance?
Djokovic said Hijikata was "playing out of his mind", was not missing, kept the ball low and gave a terrific performance. He added that the quick Paris surface suited Hijikata's flat game.
