What does Djokovic need to qualify for the ATP Finals?

Andrés Tomás Rico - 9 Oct 2026 | 23:05
ATP Novak Djokovic ATP Finals 2026 Race ATP

The Serbian, who fully engaged in the fight for a spot in the Masters Cup, sees his options reduced after falling in the first round in Shanghai, although he still has chances.
 

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What does Djokovic need to qualify for the ATP Finals? Photo: Getty Images

Novak Djokovic has experienced a true emotional rollercoaster over the past two weeks. He first arrived in Beijing claiming to have a health issue that prevented him from playing at 100%, but then he found the best level of the year to defeat players like Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, and Alex de Miñaur to win his sixth ATP 500 in Beijing and maintain his unbeaten streak. However, the effort cost him dearly as he was eliminated in his debut at the Masters 1000 in Shanghai. This loss shakes his aspiration to play at the ATP Finals in Turin.

He had already warned upon his arrival in China that his main goal for the remainder of the season was to qualify for the ATP Finals, a tournament he has not played in the last two years despite qualifying. This year, it was particularly difficult after a very irregular season, but the 500 points earned in Beijing put him right back in contention, especially with the absence due to injury of Jannik Sinner, which opens up one more spot.

Djokovic would need to reach the final rounds of the Masters 1000 in Paris to maintain his chances of playing at the ATP Finals

Before his debut in Shanghai, Djokovic was in ninth place in the Race with 2,840 points, just at the limit for qualifying for the ATP Finals, though close behind him was Alex de Miñaur in tenth place with 2,690 points and in eleventh, Rafael Jódar with 2,519 points. The problem for the Serbian is that both the Australian and the Spaniard are still alive in the Chinese Masters 1000, so a good performance from either could displace him from ninth place.

Nevertheless, all is not lost for Nole because he has a bullet in the chamber: the Masters 1000 in Paris. The Belgrade player has already announced his intention to play to keep all qualification options alive. However, he will need to roll up his sleeves if he wants to secure qualification for Turin.

If he wants to maintain mathematical chances, he must, at a minimum, reach the quarterfinals, which would earn him 200 points. This would put him firmly back in contention, but it will also depend on other results, not only from De Miñaur and Jódar but also from other players who are making a strong push and could reach the final rounds, like Taylor Fritz (2,490) or Jakub Mensik (2,445). At that stage, it will be time to break out the calculator.

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Meanwhile, the last way to maximize his options would be to play in the ATP 250 in Stockholm, which will take place a week before the ATP Finals. However, considering Djokovic's physical condition and the intensity of the matches he would have in Paris, plus a possible week in Sweden and all the ATP Finals, it makes this a very remote option.

In short, Novak Djokovic's aspirations depend on his main rivals not achieving good results in Shanghai and giving everything in Paris to secure his 17th ATP Finals and fight for his eighth Masters Cup title. 
 

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, ¿Qué necesita Djokovic para clasificarse a las ATP Finals?