Hurkacz beats Djokovic in Shanghai for first win in nine meetings

Hubert Hurkacz defeated Novak Djokovic 6-4 6-3 in the second round of the Shanghai Masters, recording his first victory over the Serbian in nine meetings. According to BBC Sport's match report, the world number 34 completed the win in 87 minutes, ending Djokovic's tournament just three days after he lifted the China Open trophy in Beijing.

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Hurkacz, who won the Shanghai title in 2023, broke Djokovic once in each set to secure the straight-sets result. Djokovic had received a first-round bye as the 10th seed, but arrived at this match amid a busy stretch of competition: the Shanghai encounter was his sixth match in 10 days. The defeat prevented him from extending his successful run in China into a second tournament.

Speaking after the match, Hurkacz described the significance of finally beating an opponent he had been facing for about seven years without a victory. In comments carried by the BBC, the Pole expressed his respect for Djokovic's achievements and said sharing the court with him remained a pleasure. He also acknowledged the challenge of playing someone who had just won the Beijing event.

For Djokovic, 39, that China Open success had ended an 11-month wait for a trophy and brought his career total to 102 titles. Alex de Minaur retired injured in the final. The victory also meant Djokovic had won a tour-level singles title in 21 consecutive years, while his winning streak in Beijing reached 34 matches. It was his second final of the year, following his Australian Open defeat by Carlos Alcaraz in January.

Djokovic's route through Beijing included a win over world number two Alexander Zverev. He was also a set and a break ahead of third seed Daniil Medvedev when the Russian was defaulted. Those results had helped improve Djokovic's position in the race for the season-ending ATP Finals, but the early Shanghai exit leaves him ninth. BBC Sport reported that he now needs a strong Paris Masters performance in November to move into the top eight.

Elsewhere in Shanghai, Britain's Arthur Fery lost a three-and-a-half-hour contest to Karen Khachanov, with all three sets decided by tie-breaks. Khachanov won 7-6 (8-6) 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-2). Fery, who reached this year's Wimbledon semi-finals, therefore joined Djokovic in exiting the tournament.