{"id":2217304,"date":"2026-10-24T19:51:06","date_gmt":"2026-10-24T16:51:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2217304"},"modified":"2026-10-24T19:51:06","modified_gmt":"2026-10-24T16:51:06","slug":"novak-djokovic-receives-atp-finals-boost-without-playing-as-rivals-suffers-shock-defeats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2217304","title":{"rendered":"Novak Djokovic receives ATP Finals boost without playing as rivals suffers shock defeats"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">Novak Djokovic receives ATP Finals boost without playing as rivals suffers shock defeats<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-x-3 gap-y-1 md:gap-x-4 flex-wrap items-center\">\n                        <span class=\"ps-authors flex flex-wrap items-center gap-x-1.5 max-w-full gap-y-0.5 text-sm font-normal text-author\"><span class=\"ps-author-item whitespace-nowrap\"><a class=\"ps-author text-sm font-normal !text-author\" rel=\"author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/richie-mills\">Richie Mills<\/a><\/span><\/span>                        <time class=\"flex-shrink-0 text-sm font-normal text-info\" datetime=\"24 Oct 2026 8:51 PM\" data-ps-date=\"24 Oct 2026 8:51 PM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1792871466\"><br \/>\n                            24 Oct 2026 8:51 PM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" 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flipboard\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sm:hidden flex items-center space-x-5\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_light.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn-hidden\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"Novak Djokovic receives ATP Finals boost without playing as rivals suffers shock defeats\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Novak-Djokovic-press-conference-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Pictured: Novak Djokovic speaks at a press conference\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                Novak Djokovic has received a ATP Finals boost                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\"><!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/novak-djokovic\">Novak Djokovic<\/a>\u2019s Turin hopes received a boost after Arthur Fils\u2019 shock loss to veteran Jan Lennard Struff in Brussels.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/arthur-fils\">Fils<\/a> was the top seed at the European Open, and after receiving a bye into the quarter-finals after Jaume Munar\u2019s walkover, the Frenchman battled past Alex Michelsen in two tight sets in the last eight.<\/p>\n<p>That set up an enticing semi-final clash with the big-hitting Struff, who was seeking the fifth <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/atp-tour\">ATP Tour<\/a> final of his long career.\u00a0The 36-year-old took the first set 6-4 but Fils battled back to claim the second on a tie-break on Saturday evening.<\/p>\n<p>Although the Cincinnati Masters winner was the favourite to reach the final, where Tallon Griekspoor was waiting, the German held his nerve and claimed an impressive 6-4, 6-7 (9), 7-6 (5) victory in just under two hours and 20 minutes.<\/p>\n<p>While Fils \u2013 who was broken when serving for the match at 5-4 in the decider \u2013 is up to a career high of eight, the 22-year-old missed the chance to put more daylight between him and his rivals in the race for the ATP Finals.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>More ATP Tour News<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-2 mt-3 px-3 text-base font-semibold leading-snug text-title xs:px-4\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/2026-vienna-open-draw-carlos-alcaraz-alexander-zverev-daniil-medvedev\">2026 Vienna Open Draw: Carlos Alcaraz faces tough test as Alexander Zverev learns his fate<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-2 mt-3 px-3 text-base font-semibold leading-snug text-title xs:px-4\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/never-seen-that-no-5-distracted-bizarre-incident-incredible-match\">\u2018Never ever seen that\u2019 \u2013 Former world No 5 distracted by bizarre incident during \u2018incredible\u2019 match<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Want more from Tennis365? Add us as <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\">a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for tennis coverage you can trust.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Following his win, Struff said, \u201cI want to thank the crowd for the support. It was an unreal match. I felt I played a very, very good first set, he won the second set which was very close. I managed to come back from a break down twice in the third set. I am just very happy to get the win.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Despite this setback, Fils is still well placed to qualify for the season-ending event in Turin for the first time in his young career.<\/p>\n<p>The Frenchman is seventh in the Race with 3,575 points, with Frances Tiafoe and Rafael Jodar making up the last two qualification spots on 3,380 and 3,159 points respectively.<\/p>\n<p>24-time major winner <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/novak-djokovic\">Novak Djokovic<\/a> is currently 11th in the Race on 2,840 points \u2013 exactly 319 points behind Jodar, who occupies the last qualification position.<\/p>\n<p>Realistically, the Serbian is more likely to haul in Tiafoe or Jodar, but Fils\u2019 defeat, along with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/flavio-cobolli\">Flavio Cobolli<\/a> losing in three sets in Lyon to fellow Italian and world No 26 Lorenzo Musetti, means they will be looking over their shoulders nervously heading into Basel and Vienna.<\/p>\n<p>Musetti won his quarter-final match after 1am this morning and had just over 12 hours to recover before taking on the French Open champion. Despite falling from world No 5 to outside the top 20 in an injury-hit season, the 24-year-old saved four match points and claimed a battling <span>4-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>For Djokovic, he may need to win either Basel or the Paris Masters, or at least have deep runs at both tournaments, to qualify for the ATP Finals.<\/p>\n<p>Plus, Alex De Minaur and Lyon finalist Taylor Fritz will hope to crash the party in Turin. Incidentally, Daniil Medvedev sits in sixth but will jump to fifth if he wins the title in Almaty on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>Alexander Zverev has already been confirmed as the year-end No 1 due to Jannik Sinner\u2019s season-ending knee injury, while Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton have already qualified.<\/p>\n<p>The qualification cut currently stands at 4,145 but that could change depending on how the remaining candidates do in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>2026 ATP Race:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Alexander Zverev \u2013 9,150 points (Q)<\/li>\n<li><em>Jannik Sinner \u2013 7,950 points (injured)<\/em><\/li>\n<li>Carlos Alcaraz \u2013 4,600 points (Q)<\/li>\n<li>Ben Shelton \u2013 4,480 points (Q)<\/li>\n<li>Flavio Cobolli \u2013 3,640 points<\/li>\n<li>Daniil Medvedev \u2013 3,575 points<\/li>\n<li>Arthur Fils \u2013 3,425 points<\/li>\n<li>Frances Tiafoe \u2013 3,380 points<\/li>\n<li>Rafael Jodar \u2013 3,159 points<\/li>\n<li>Alex De Minaur \u2013 2,880 points<\/li>\n<li><strong>Novak Djokovic \u2013 2,840 points<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Taylor Fritz \u2013 2,695 points<\/li>\n<li>Tommy Paul \u2013 2,675 points<\/li>\n<li>Alejandro Davidovich Fokina \u2013 2,510 points<\/li>\n<li>Jakub Mensik \u2013 2,495 points<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>WHAT ELSE?\u00a0<\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/grand-slam-champion-bummed-gael-monfils-elina-svitolinas-split-stan-wawrinka-message\">Grand Slam champion \u2018super bummed\u2019 by Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina split as Stan Wawrinka sends message<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!-- Article End --><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Novak Djokovic receives ATP Finals boost without playing as rivals suffers shock defeats Richie Mills 24 Oct 2026 8:51 PM Novak Djokovic has received a ATP Finals boost Novak Djokovic\u2019s Turin hopes received a boost after Arthur Fils\u2019 shock loss to veteran Jan Lennard Struff in Brussels. Fils was the top seed at the European [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-2217304","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2217304","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2217304"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2217304\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2217304"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2217304"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2217304"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}