Novak Djokovic vs Hubert Hurkacz prediction and betting tips – October 9, 2026
Shanghai, China
On October 9, Novak Djokovic and Hubert Hurkacz will face each other in the second round of the Shanghai tournament. Here is my prediction for the upcoming match.
Novak Djokovic
The legendary Serbian has been the subject of plenty of discussion lately. He claimed his seventh title in Beijing, winning the tournament in all seven of his appearances there. In the final, Djokovic defeated Alex de Minaur, 7:6, 0:1, before his opponent retired from the match. The Serbian is currently 11th in the rankings and ninth in the ATP Race. With Jannik Sinner having ended his season early, Djokovic has an excellent chance of reaching the ATP Finals, but he will also need a strong run in Shanghai.
Djokovic himself said that he is in good form and will try to maintain his level after winning the title in Beijing. The key for him will be staying healthy, as the risk of injury increases at the age of 39.
Hubert Hurkacz
The Pole is enduring a difficult season and even went through a seven-match losing streak. Hurkacz was not afraid to compete in Challenger events and won one of them. At his most recent tournament in Beijing, he reached the semifinals, where he lost to de Minaur after being unable to complete the match due to a thigh injury.
Hurkacz began his Shanghai campaign in the first round, defeating Australia's James Duckworth 6:3, 7:6. The Pole relies heavily on his powerful serve, but that weapon does not always work against Djokovic.
Head-to-head
The players have met eight times, with Djokovic leading 8-0. To Hurkacz's credit, he has always made his opponent work hard. Their most recent meeting took place last year, when Novak won the Geneva final 5:7, 7:6, 7:6.
Match prediction
This is a clash between experienced tennis players, although Hurkacz is ten years younger. Djokovic is a slight favorite on paper, and he is certainly in good form, but it remains unclear what kind of physical condition he will be in after Beijing. I expect another grueling match with very few breaks of serve. My pick is an outright win for the Serbian.
