By user8581598461203680421 
Novak Djokovic suffered a surprise second-round defeat to Hubert Hurkacz at the Shanghai Masters, just three days after winning the China Open in Beijing.
The 39-year-old Djokovic had received a first-round bye as the tournament’s 10th seed. He ended an 11-month wait to lift the 102nd title of his illustrious career after Alex de Minaur retired injured from the China Open final.
However, contesting his sixth match in the space of 10 days, Djokovic lost to Hurkacz for the first time in nine career meetings with the Pole. The big-serving Hurkacz, the 2023 champion in Shanghai and currently ranked 34th in the world, claimed a 6-4 6-3 victory in 87 minutes.
“It’s a special night. I’ve been playing Novak for like seven years. It’s been unsuccessful but [he has been] such a great champion for so many years,” Hurkacz said.
“He just won Beijing, so it’s a very difficult task 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.”
Beijing triumph boosts ranking hopes
The men’s record 24-time Grand Slam champion claimed a tour-level singles title for the 21st year in a row with his victory in Beijing, where he extended his winning streak to 34 matches. It was only his second final of the year, following his defeat by Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open final in January.
Djokovic had beaten world number two Alexander Zverev and led third seed Daniil Medvedev by a set and a break when the Russian was defaulted on his way to the Beijing final. In Shanghai, however, a single break of serve in each set against Hurkacz proved enough to undo his bid.
Victory in Beijing had boosted his hopes of qualifying for the season-ending ATP Finals. Djokovic, currently ninth in the race to Turin, will now need a strong showing at the Paris Masters in November to break into the top eight.
Fery falls in three sets
Elsewhere in Shanghai, Great Britain’s Arthur Fery lost a closely fought three-set contest to former top-10 player Karen Khachanov. Fery, who achieved a fairytale run to the Wimbledon semi-finals this year, was beaten 7-6 (8-6) 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-2) after three hours and 30 minutes.