Key points
- Alexander Zverev lost 7-6(5), 6-2 to Lorenzo Musetti in his first match as world No. 1 at the Paris Masters on November 4, 2026.
- Musetti, ranked 24th, hit 29 winners and eight aces and improved his head-to-head record against Zverev to 4-2, according to Reuters.
- Novak Djokovic lost 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 to Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata, ranked 83rd, ending his hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals.
- Second seed Carlos Alcaraz beat Alex Michelsen 7-6(4), 6-3 to reach the last 16 and set up a meeting with Matteo Berrettini.
- Fourth seed Daniil Medvedev was beaten 6-4, 6-4 by Peru's Ignacio Buse, while seventh seed Frances Tiafoe lost to Quentin Halys 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(11/9).
- France's Arthur Fils secured qualification for his first ATP Finals after Tiafoe's defeat, with the season-ending event scheduled for November 15-22 in Turin.
The Paris Masters produced a dramatic day of upsets on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, as newly installed world No. 1 Alexander Zverev and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic both exited the tournament. Zverev fell to Italy's Lorenzo Musetti, while Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata recovered from a set down to beat Djokovic. Second seed Carlos Alcaraz was among the leading names to progress, defeating Alex Michelsen in straight sets.
The results reshaped the draw and ended Djokovic's hopes of reaching the ATP Finals through the Paris tournament. They also gave Musetti and Hijikata notable victories against two of the biggest names in men's tennis, while Alcaraz moved into the last 16.
Musetti spoils Zverev's first outing as world No. 1
Zverev's first match after reaching the top of the ATP rankings ended with a 7-6(5), 6-2 defeat to Musetti. The Italian, ranked 24th, produced an assertive performance to reach the third round and extend his lead in their head-to-head series to 4-2, according to Reuters.
Musetti hit 29 winners and eight aces, using his shot-making to put pressure on Zverev. The German had been in a strong position during the first-set tiebreak but lost five consecutive points, allowing Musetti to take the opener. Zverev then struggled to regain control as the Italian won six of the next eight games.
After the match, Zverev said he was annoyed at having to justify his position as world No. 1. He said he believed he deserved to be at the top despite the defeat. Musetti, meanwhile, described the contest as the toughest challenge the sport could offer him that day and said he was pleased to have taken his opportunities.
Hijikata stuns Djokovic in three sets
Djokovic's exit was another major surprise. The Serbian, a 24-time Grand Slam champion and record seven-time Paris Masters winner, began well against Hijikata and took the first set 6-2. The Australian qualifier, ranked 83rd, responded by raising his level and winning the next two sets 6-3, 6-3.
Hijikata broke Djokovic in the eighth game of the second set to level the match. The third set remained competitive until the Australian secured consecutive breaks late in the set, closing out a significant victory over one of the tournament's most successful players.
The defeat ended Djokovic's chance of qualifying for the ATP Finals through a strong run in Paris. Reports said the result effectively brought his season to a close, with the Serbian indicating that his immediate plan was to rest. The loss also removed the possibility of an eighth Paris Masters title this year.
Alcaraz avoids the upset wave
Alcaraz, the second seed, negotiated a difficult match against American Alex Michelsen, winning 7-6(4), 6-3. The opening set was closely contested, with both players exchanging breaks before the tiebreak. Michelsen moved ahead 4-1, but Alcaraz responded by winning six points in a row to take the set.
The Spaniard maintained his composure in the second set and earned a crucial break in the eighth game before serving out the match. The victory took him into the last 16, where he was set to face Matteo Berrettini. Alcaraz said it had been a difficult day for the top players but that he had focused on playing his own game.
More seeds fall as Fils secures ATP Finals place
Zverev and Djokovic were not the only prominent players to leave the tournament. Fourth seed Daniil Medvedev lost 6-4, 6-4 to Peru's Ignacio Buse, while seventh seed Frances Tiafoe was beaten by France's Quentin Halys 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(11/9).
Halys's victory had an important consequence for French tennis. It confirmed Arthur Fils's qualification for the ATP Finals, giving the 22-year-old a place at the season-ending event for the first time. Fils was scheduled to face Tomas Machac later in the Paris session, with the Turin tournament due to run from November 15 to 22.
Alex de Minaur also exited after losing 7-6(2), 6-3 to Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry. The sequence of results left a notably different draw from the one expected at the start of the week, with several seeded players removed before the quarter-final stage.
What the results mean for the Paris Masters
The day's matches highlighted the volatility of a Masters 1000 event, where even the leading seeds can face difficult early-round matchups. Musetti's win gave him a significant result against the newly ranked world No. 1, while Hijikata's comeback over Djokovic was one of the tournament's biggest surprises.
Alcaraz remains in contention and will next face Berrettini, while the exits of Zverev, Djokovic and Medvedev open opportunities for the players still in the draw. For Djokovic, the loss also closes the door on an ATP Finals qualification route through Paris. For Fils, Tiafoe's defeat delivered a different kind of breakthrough: confirmation of a debut at the season-ending championships.
The Paris Masters now moves into its next round with a changed competitive landscape. The results of November 4 will be remembered not only for the names eliminated, but also for the opportunities created for Musetti, Hijikata, Alcaraz and the other players who advanced.
Frequently asked questions
Who defeated Alexander Zverev at the 2026 Paris Masters?
Italy's Lorenzo Musetti defeated Alexander Zverev 7-6(5), 6-2 on November 4, 2026. It was Zverev's first match since becoming world No. 1. Musetti, ranked 24th, advanced to the third round after winning the opening-set tiebreak and controlling the second set.
Who knocked Novak Djokovic out of the Paris Masters?
Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata defeated Novak Djokovic 2-6, 6-3, 6-3. Hijikata was ranked 83rd at the time. Djokovic won the first set but lost control of the match as Hijikata took the next two sets to secure the upset.
Did Carlos Alcaraz win his Paris Masters match?
Yes. Second seed Carlos Alcaraz beat American Alex Michelsen 7-6(4), 6-3 to reach the last 16. Michelsen led 4-1 in the first-set tiebreak, but Alcaraz won the next six points and later secured a decisive break in the second set.
Who will Carlos Alcaraz play next at the Paris Masters?
Alcaraz is scheduled to face Italy's Matteo Berrettini in the next round after defeating Michelsen. The Spaniard advanced in straight sets while several other high-profile players, including Zverev, Djokovic and Medvedev, exited the tournament.
How did Novak Djokovic's defeat affect his ATP Finals chances?
Djokovic's loss to Hijikata ended his hopes of qualifying for the 2026 ATP Finals, according to the match reports. The defeat also effectively brought his season to a close, with Djokovic saying his immediate plan was to rest.