Novak Djokovic suffered a shock early exit from the Shanghai Masters after Hubert Hurkacz defeated him 6-4, 6-3 in the second round on Friday.
The Serbian arrived in Shanghai just days after winning his seventh China Open title in Beijing, but he was unable to carry that momentum into the ATP Masters 1000 tournament.
Hurkacz ends Djokovic's perfect record
The defeat was Hurkacz's first victory over Djokovic in nine career meetings. The Polish player had lost all eight of their previous encounters before producing one of the biggest wins of his season.
Hurkacz dominated behind his serve, firing 13 aces and 28 winners during the 87-minute match. He also saved the break points Djokovic created early in the opening set before taking control.
The victory extended Hurkacz's winning streak at the Shanghai Masters to eight matches. He won the tournament in 2023 and returned this year after missing the 2024 and 2025 editions.
Djokovic struggles after Beijing triumph
The loss came only three days after Djokovic claimed his 102nd ATP Tour title in Beijing.
The 39-year-old defeated Alex de Minaur in the China Open final after the Australian retired while trailing 7-6(3), 0-1 because of injury. Djokovic had also beaten Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev during his run to the title.
However, Djokovic admitted that he did not feel as fresh in Shanghai.
He said the quick surface was very different from Beijing and that fatigue affected his performance. The Serbian also acknowledged that Hurkacz's serve made returning extremely difficult.
Earliest-ever Shanghai exit
The defeat marked Djokovic's earliest exit from the Shanghai Masters.
The four-time champion had reached at least the quarter-finals in each of his previous 11 appearances at the tournament.
It is another difficult result in a season in which Djokovic has increasingly had to manage his fitness. He also suffered a first-round defeat at the US Open earlier this year.
Despite the setback, Djokovic remains focused on the European indoor swing. He said his next planned tournament is the Paris Masters, where he will look to strengthen his chances of qualifying for the ATP Finals in Turin.
Hurkacz moves into third round
Hurkacz will now face either Lorenzo Musetti or Chinese wildcard Zhou Yi in the third round.
For Djokovic, the Shanghai defeat brings a sudden end to a tournament he entered with considerable confidence following his Beijing triumph.
The result also highlights how quickly conditions can change on the ATP Tour, with Djokovic moving from a title-winning performance to an unexpected straight-sets defeat just days later.
