Novak Djokovic climbs to 8th in the Race, keeps ATP Finals hopes alive

Novak Djokovic is back in the fight for the ATP Race to Turin after a triumphant debut at the Shanghai Masters. The Serbian spent most of the year outside the qualification zone, but his recent victory and Alex De Minaur's absence allowed him to climb to 8th place.

As the 4th seed, Nole had a first-round bye but needed a debut win to secure the points necessary to ease his Race standings. In a tight match, Djokovic defeated the American World No. 43 Alex Michelsen 7-6(3), 7-6(9), reaching the Round of 32 and moving up a spot in the Race.

Djokovic’s inconsistent year and limited tournament participation have left his ATP Finals qualification in doubt. He has played the Finals uninterrupted since 2017 and is defending his title. Djokovic has only played eight tournaments this year, with 32 wins and no titles. Most of his points in 2024 come from his Wimbledon final and semifinals at the Australian Open and Monte-Carlo Masters.

Alex De Minaur’s hip injury in recent months allowed Djokovic to recover from a significant points deficit. The Australian was having the best season of his career, breaking into the Top 10 for the first time and winning titles at the Mexican Open and s’Hertogenbosch, along with quarterfinals appearances at all Grand Slams. However, his hip injury forced him to withdraw from Wimbledon, and although he returned for the US Open, he was injured again, making him skip the Asian Swing.

Djokovic’s second-round victory over Michelsen earned him 50 points, bringing his total to 3,310, narrowly surpassing De Minaur’s 3,305. Nole now has a good chance to continue climbing in the standings.

The early exits of Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev (6th and 7th in the Race) offer Djokovic the opportunity to move further up. Reaching the semifinals will add 400 points (3,660), surpassing Rublev (3,580). Advancing to the final adds 650 points (3,910), overtaking Ruud (3,795). Winning the title could give Djokovic a chance to pass Taylor Fritz, depending on how far the American progresses.