Hubert Hurkacz evoked memories of his Rolex Shanghai Masters best to sink Novak Djokovic in a Friday-night upset at the ATP Masters 1000 event.
The 29-year-old Pole, competing in Shanghai for the first time since he lifted the trophy there in 2023, sank Djokovic 6-4, 6-3 to secure his first Lexus ATP Head2Head victory in nine attempts against the Serbian former World No. 1. Hurkacz delivered a typically big-serving performance and went toe-to-toe from the baseline with Djokovic, who appeared to struggle physically in his sixth match in the space of 10 days.
“It’s a special night. I’ve been playing Novak for like seven years, so it’s been unsuccessful but [he has been] such a great champion for so many years,” Hurkacz said after his 87-minute victory at the Qi Zhong Tennis Center. “Being on Tour, at the top, and he just won Beijing so it’s a very difficult ask to play against him, but also it is a pleasure for me to share a court with him, to play such a legend of the sport.
“It’s a lot of fun, and then you also challenge yourself, to see where your level is.”
Both players arrived in Shanghai having already reached a tour-level final in China this year: Djokovic won his 102nd tour-level title on Tuesday at the China Open in Beijing, while Hurkacz reached the Chengdu Open championship match a week prior. The Pole subsequently retired from his Beijing semi-final against Alex de Minaur due to an adductor injury.
Yet even after defeating James Duckworth in the first round in Shanghai, it was Hurkacz who appeared the more physically fresh in Friday’s second-round encounter, with Djokovic delivering a low-energy performance in the wake of his Beijing exploits. Hurkacz crucially fended off two break points to hold serve in the third game, but was largely in control from then on as Djokovic struggled to counter the Pole’s power and precision.
“Definitely it was very important at the start to stay there with Novak, because if he gets ahead, he presents such a great level and it’s not easy to come back,” Hurkacz reflected. “Then towards the end of course I was feeling some nerves. It’s not my first time leading by a break in a set against Novak so I was trying to stay focused on my things, what I needed to do. I was pleased with the performance at the end.”
Hurkacz finished the match having won 82 per cent (36/44) of points behind his first serve, according to Infosys ATP Stats. With his win, he became just the fourth player to earn at least one hard-court win against all of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic, after Andy Murray, Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev.
Now on an eight-match winning streak in Shanghai, Hurkacz will next prepare for a third-round clash against Lorenzo Musetti or home wild card Zhou Yi.
Meanwhile Djokovic will next prepare for the European indoor season, with his next scheduled event being November’s Rolex Paris Masters. The 39-year-old is currently ninth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, leaving him in contention to qualify for the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals.
