Djokovic leaves Shanghai without a win to celebrate his record

Djokovic leaves Shanghai unable to celebrate his Masters 1000 record with a victory. Beaten by Hubert Hurkacz in his opening match of this edition, he saw his tournament run end after a demanding contest featuring long rallies. The final set ended 6-3, sealing his elimination and the Pole’s place in the third round.

Hurkacz won the match 6-4, 6-3 against Novak, who was hampered by physical problems. In the first set, Hurkacz had two break-point chances in the third game but saved them. Later, as Novak walked back to his chair, the umpire warned him after Viktor Troicki shouted from the technical team’s box. Novak also missed an opportunity on his second serve, sending the ball into the doubles alley.

The signs of discomfort continued: Djokovic dropped his serve with a double fault in the fourth game. Between sets, his team sent him a gel and a thermos of a blended drink to help him cope with trembling. His exit ends his run in Shanghai, where he had also hoped to mark his record with a victory.