Novak Djokovic will compete in Shanghai for the first time since 2019

© Clive Brunskill / Staff – Getty Images Sport

Four-time Shanghai Masters champion Novak Djokovic will compete at one of his favorite Masters 1000 events for the first time in five years! With 34 wins from 39 matches and four crowns on his tally, Novak is the most decorated player in Shanghai, missing only two editions between 2009 and 2019.

After half a decade, the Serb will play in front of his Chinese fans in October, seeking the fifth trophy at Qi Zhong Stadium. Novak will travel to Shanghai as the Olympic Games singles champion, claiming an elusive title in Sunday’s final over Carlos Alcaraz.

Djokovic is world no. 2 behind Jannik Sinner and will have to defend 3000 ATP points in Cincinnati and New York to stay in touch with his young rivals. However, Novak has fulfilled his dream after the Paris Olympics and will compete without any pressure by the end of the season.

Djokovic will seek his 100th ATP title at upcoming events, and it may come in Shanghai, where he has had so much success in the past.

Novak ended his opening two Shanghai campaigns in the semi-final, falling to Nikolay Davydenko and Roger Federer.

Djokovic prevailed over Andy Murray in that epic 2012 final, fending off five match points and lifting his first Shanghai Masters trophy. Novak defended the title in 2013, edging Juan Martin del Potro in the final before falling to Roger Federer in the semi-final a year later.

The Serb did not lose a set in Shanghai in 2015, adding the third title to his tally before reaching his seventh consecutive semi-final in 2016. Roberto Bautista Agut defeated Djokovic in the semi-final, and the Serb skipped Shanghai in 2017.

The crowd favorite returned stronger in 2018, ousting five rivals in straight sets and celebrating his fourth Shanghai Masters crown. Novak destroyed Alexander Zverev in his 1000th ATP match in the semi-final, arranging the title clash with Borna Coric.

The Serb beat the Croat 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 36 minutes, celebrating his 32nd Masters 1000 title, embracing a 39-4 run since Rome in May.Novak Djokovic, 2024 Paris Olympics© Matthew Stockman / Staff – Getty Images Sport

Novak Djokovic will compete in Shanghai for the first time since 2019.

Novak controlled the pace in his 400th Masters 1000 match, dominating Borna from the baseline.

Coric ousted Federer in the semi-final and could not repeat that against an in-form Djokovic. Novak lost nine points in his games and defended the only break chance offered to Borna. The Croat felt the pressure in his games, dropping 40% of the points and losing serve once in each set.

Djokovic landed 18 winners and 17 unforced errors while welcoming 38 unforced mistakes from his opponent. Novak had the upper hand in the quickest exchanges up to four strokes and dominated the mid-range ones, winning 27 out of 40 points in that area.

Djokovic chased his fifth Shanghai title in 2019, beating Denis Shapovalov and John Isner for a place in the quarter-final. Novak met Stefanos Tsitsipas and suffered a 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 loss in two hours and two minutes, failing to reach the semi-final at this event for the first time.

 Novak Djokovic, 2018 Shanghai Masters© Lintao Zhang / Staff – Getty Images Sport

Stefanos ousted Novak for the second time in three encounters, raising his level from the middle of the opening set and advancing into his fourth Masters 1000 semi-final.

The young Greek faced only one break point, losing the opening set before clinching two breaks in sets two and three en route to a notable victory after a high-quality duel. Tsitsipas fired 34 winners and 22 unreturned serves, and Djokovic followed that pace.

The Greek grabbed two points more, prevailing in the pivotal moments and moving over the top. Stefanos went for his shots and outplayed Novak in the quickest and mid-range rallies to seal the deal. Both players took six points on the return in the opening set.

Djokovic made the difference with an early break in game two after Tsitsipas’ backhand mistake. The Serb served well in the opening games, forging a 3-0 lead in seven minutes! Stefanos served well for the rest of the encounter, keeping the pressure on the four-time winner.

Novak survived the seventh game and wrapped up the set with a hold in game nine after a service winner, moving closer to another Shanghai Masters semi-final.

The Greek served well in the second set, dropping nine points in six games and waiting for a chance on the return. The Serb followed the rival’s pace until the 12th game, when he served to stay in the set for the second time.

Djokovic cracked under pressure and sprayed a forehand error, losing serve and allowing Tsitsipas to clinch the set 7-5 and gain a boost. Stefanos controlled the pace in the decider, serving well and challenging Novak to follow that rhythm.

The Serb missed a forehand in the fourth game, dropping serve and falling 3-1 behind. Tsitsipas served well and had a chance to seal the deal at 5-3. The Greek landed a smash winner in the ninth game, celebrating one of his career-best wins and delivering the Serb’s earliest Shanghai Masters exit.