Hubert Hurkacz picked up where his best Shanghai tennis left off, beating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-3 on Friday, to claim a first win in nine meetings at the Rolex Shanghai Masters. The 29-year-old Pole, back at the Qi Zhong Tennis Center for the first time since he lifted the trophy in 2023, needed 87 minutes to sink the Serbian former world No. 1. It was a straight-sets upset built on a heavy serve and baseline power that Djokovic never fully answered.
Hubert Hurkacz had lost all eight previous Lexus ATP Head2Head matches against Novak Djokovic. That record ended in the second round of this ATP Masters 1000.
He saved two break points to hold in the third game, then stayed largely in control. Djokovic could not blunt the Pole’s pace or precision from the back of the court. Hurkacz went toe-to-toe from the baseline and closed the match without letting the former world No. 1 find a rhythm.
Before the match, Hurkacz had already set the target. “It’s going to be a fun challenge,” he said after beating James Duckworth. “It’s on my list to play some good tennis against him and get a win. He’s got a few of them already… I need to serve well, play well from the baseline and return well. He won the title [in Beijing] again. It’s always a pleasure to share the court with Novak, such a great champion.”
He did exactly that. The win also stretched his Shanghai streak to eight matches.
(More to follow)
