Despite recording one of the least successful seasons of his illustrious career, Novak Djokovic is still in contention to qualify for the ATP Finals.
In 2026 thus far, the Serb has tallied his lowest season win percentage since 2006, with a record of 19 victories to eight losses; a strike rate of 70%. Though he has made the final of the Australian Open, the semifinals of Wimbledon, and even captured his 102nd title in Beijing, Djokovic has suffered a number of shocking defeats at big tournaments and briefly fell outside the top 10 last month as a result.
Though he has played in just nine tour-level competitions this year, the 39-year-old currently occupies the eighth and final spot in the race to Turin, where the ATP Finals are held.
Taylor Fritz’s exit at the Shanghai Masters helps Novak Djokovic
With 2,840 live points to his name, Djokovic does not have much of a cushion in his lead over those who trail him in the race to the ATP Finals. Alex de Minaur is right behind him with 2,780, and could rise above Djokovic if he wins his next match at the Shanghai Masters.
Rafael Jodar is 10th in the race after De Minaur with 2,609 live points and is also putting pressure on Djokovic. Luckily for the 24-time major champion, however, Taylor Fritz, 11th in the race, was beaten early on at the Shanghai Masters.
Fritz lost to a resurgent Stefanos Tsitsipas, who came back from a set down to defeat the American and reach the fourth round in Shanghai. Fritz now remains on 2,530 live points and will need a lengthy run at the Paris Masters to have any chance of qualifying for the ATP Finals.
Djokovic may also need to go far in Paris, as he could very well be leapfrogged by De Minaur and Jodar in the ATP Finals race. Djokovic has not competed at the Paris Masters since the 2023 season, when he won the event for the seventh time; an Open Era record.