Novak Djokovic’s rankings setback becomes a reality following Taylor Fritz’s US Open quarterfinal win

Novak Djokovic now sits at No.9 in the Race to Turin with Taylor Fritz's four-set win over Alexander Zverev.

Novak Djokovic’s rankings setback becomes a reality following Taylor Fritz’s US Open quarterfinal win

Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz (via Tennis World USA)

24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic had a disappointing campaign at the US Open, where he was knocked out in the third round by Alexei Popyrin in four sets. As the defending champion, the Serbian is expected to face a significant drop in ATP rankings. He is confirmed to fall to No. 4, but the situation could worsen.

With Taylor Fritz‘s win over Alexander Zverev in the US Open quarterfinals, the American now sits at No. 7 in the ATP Race to Turin. Additionally, Alex de Minaur is at No. 8 as he prepares to face Jack Draper in the US Open quarterfinals.

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Meanwhile, Djokovic is ranked No. 9 in the Race to London and needs to be in the top 8 to qualify for the Nitto ATP World Tour Finals, where he is the defending champion. His ranking could drop further if Daniil Medvedev defeats Jannik Sinner in the highly anticipated US Open quarterfinal.

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Novak Djokovic set to make Shanghai return after five years

Novak Djokovic is set to return to China for the Rolex Shanghai Masters in October. The 37-year-old Serbian star has won the tournament four times before. He has a strong record of 34 wins and five losses at the Shanghai venue.

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic (Image via X) 
I can’t wait. I’m super excited to see my Chinese fans, all the tennis fans. It’s one of the nicest tennis tournaments in the world. Five years has been too long to not visit China, so I’m really looking forward to [it].
Novak Djokovic said on the tournament website

Djokovic last played in Shanghai in 2019. He recently won his first title of 2024 at the Paris Olympics and reached the third round of the US Open. Djokovic hopes to perform well in Shanghai and improve his chances of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals. He is currently eighth in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin.

The Rolex Shanghai Masters is part of the ATP Masters 1000 series, and Djokovic holds a record 40 Masters titles. He is aiming to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the 17th time in his career. This year, Hubert Hurkacz is the defending champion in Shanghai.

Local stars will also compete in the event. Zhang Zhizhen, ranked No. 41, and rising player Shang Juncheng, from the #NextGenATP, will represent China. These players will aim to make an impact at the prestigious tournament.

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