Novak Djokovic suffered a stunning defeat to Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata at the Paris Masters on Thursday, a result that will see the Serbian legend drop to his lowest ranking in 21 years.
The 37-year-old Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, was eliminated in the early rounds of the ATP Masters 1000 event, marking a significant low point in his illustrious career.
Hijikata, ranked outside the top 100, delivered the upset of the tournament so far, sending Djokovic to a defeat that underscores the increasing competitiveness of the men's tour.
The loss means Djokovic will fall in the ATP rankings to a position not seen since the early 2000s, ending a remarkable streak of consistency at the top of the game.
