Djokovic and the reason for his poor performance in Shanghai: "I didn't feel like myself"

Carlos Navarro - 9 Oct 2026 | 14:37
Novak Djokovic ATP ATP Shanghái 2026 Hubert Hurkacz Rueda de prensa

The Serbian was concise when defining his problems in Shanghai, citing the change in surface as an important factor in his defeat against Hurkacz.

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Djokovic and a tough defeat in Shanghai: this is the reason.

Novak Djokovic once again tasted the bitterness of defeat after a poor performance in his debut at the ATP Shanghai 2026. His opponent for the opening clash was no pushover: debuting against a past champion like Hubert Hurkacz proved to be too tough for the Serbian, who watched as the Polish player's cannon shots and a couple of missed opportunities at the start of the match were all it took to tilt the balance.

The horizon that lay ahead for the Serbian in the penultimate Masters 1000 of the year was undoubtedly challenging. Three top-10 players fell to him in Beijing, an impressive feat that carried a harsh consequence: a physical toll that he brought with him to the QiZhong Stadium and caused him to gradually fade away during his first match. If that were not enough, he faced a rival who displayed remarkable skill and tremendous consistency with his serve: part of this was due to the renewed speed of the Shanghai courts, or so the Belgrade player claimed in the mixed zone after the match.

Djokovic offers the key reason for his loss to Hurkacz in Shanghai

What caused his drop in level today? Should we consider any physical issues again? This time, Nole made no mention of discomfort or the health issue he has discussed several times; instead, he pointed to the quick transition between the courts in Beijing and Shanghai and his difficulties adapting to the new conditions. That, according to him, was the main secret behind his performance on the court today: "I was not close to the level I showed in Beijing. I'm a bit more tired, I’m not fresh. Hubi played at an impressive level, and I did not feel like myself when hitting the ball. I didn’t have that feeling. This is a super-fast surface, completely different from Beijing. 

If you lose your serve, it might be enough to lose the match, losing it once per set. That’s what happened today. It’s very complicated to break his serve, practically impossible, and today he served extremely well. Yes, I couldn’t adjust my game for this tournament, and facing a rival like Hurkacz in the first round was a tough draw", remarked Novak, who nevertheless described his experience in Asia as positive, especially with the memory of his magnificent performance in Beijing in mind. "Beijing was great for me. Here, an early exit, but it’s all good. I had a fantastic week in Beijing, and I look forward to resting a bit and preparing for Paris."

The French capital will be the Serbian's next big target, as he still has in mind the possibility of qualifying for the ATP Finals. After the withdrawal of Jannik Sinner, the wolf would currently secure one of the spots to compete in Turin... but he sees how the rest of the tournament is an opportunity for names like Alex de Miñaur or Rafa Jódar, who are also entered in other 500 tournaments to gain more points. Will we see only Novak competing in France, or does he plan to play another tournament?

"Initially, I only plan to play in Paris, or we’ll see... I hope to have a good result there." A statement not too assertive: his plans are clear, but perhaps the desire to accumulate points and obtain that necessary push ahead of Turin might lead to a last-minute surprise in Vienna or Basel. Be that as it may, it’s time for Novak to turn the page, as he will now have almost two weeks of rest before his next commitment, in principle, the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Djokovic y el motivo de su pobre actuación en Shanghái: "No me sentí yo mismo"