Djokovic edges out Sinner for the center spot on the poster; Shanghai night session tickets sell out instantly, details behind participation revealed

Following Djokovic’s confirmation to compete in this year’s Shanghai Masters, the enthusiasm among local fans reached an unprecedented level. Night session tickets from October 3rd sold out within 36 hours, prompting the organizers to urgently enhance security measures at the training courts, with security personnel treating it as a high-stakes situation.

Last night, the official Shanghai Rolex Masters Weibo unveiled the newest event poster. The new poster features Djokovic as the main focus, with world number one Alcaraz and world number two and defending champion Sinner playing supporting roles. The organizers captioned it “The legend returns, Shanghai is ready,” expressing gratitude and tribute to this extraordinary star’s participation in Shanghai.

At the same time, the tournament witnessed an unprecedented surge in ticket demand. Data shows that all night session tickets from October 3rd to 6th were snapped up within just two hours; by noon on September 24th, all night session tickets for the first week were sold out, leaving only a few “hotel viewing packages” priced over ten thousand yuan available.

“This is practically a digital earthquake!” a ticketing platform executive told reporters. After Djokovic’s announcement, the platform’s traffic surged by 500%, causing the system to crash temporarily. “We expected the tickets to sell quickly, but not this insanely fast—this set the fastest sellout record since the Shanghai Masters began in 2009.”

One major reason Djokovic’s participation caused such a massive “fanquake” is because it was so “unexpected”! According to insiders close to the organizing committee, the decision process for Djokovic’s participation was a careful blend of caution and sentimentality.

September 12: Djokovic’s team first hinted to the organizers that his recovery after the US Open exceeded expectations and that he had “a special feeling” toward the Shanghai event;

September 18 (Monday): His agent formally confirmed participation in writing, but the organizers insisted on waiting for Djokovic’s final personal signature to ensure everything was certain;

September 23, 6:00 PM: Djokovic personally sent a confirmation email with the postscript “Looking forward to seeing Shanghai fans again”;

September 24, 2:00 PM: The official Weibo posted the event poster, finalizing the slogan “The legend returns” after three revisions, highlighting Djokovic’s four championship titles in Shanghai;

Before midnight on September 24: The updated poster was displayed at key locations including Shanghai Hongqiao Airport and Nanjing East Road subway station.

“Djokovic has often referred to Shanghai as his ‘lucky place,’” a tennis commentator analyzed. “In 2012, he made a comeback against Murray here; after winning in 2018, he even said ‘I love you’ to Chinese fans in Chinese — this emotional connection makes every appearance of his deeply cherished by Chinese fans.”

In response to the unprecedented demand, organizers swiftly reallocated resources. The newly renovated Court 17 became a “key piece” — upgraded from a regular practice court to a seated training venue accommodating a thousand spectators, dedicated to Djokovic’s public practice sessions. Additionally, the organizers plan to install large live broadcast screens outside the venue to accommodate fans without tickets.

However, the fan frenzy has sharply increased security pressure. A security team leader confidentially revealed: “We have activated the highest-level contingency plan, including adding anti-crowd barriers, staggered entry controls, and even coordinating special security personnel for emergencies.” Notably, in previous Djokovic matches, fans were seen climbing trees and leaning over walls to watch; this year, the committee issued a civil viewing appeal, urging fans to “follow rational star-chasing behavior.”

The “Djokovic effect” is boosting the sports economy. Despite ticket prices doubling this year, tickets remain extremely hard to get. Sports industry experts explained: “Djokovic alone can drive over 40% growth in event-related consumption, including hotels, dining, and merchandise. His participation is a crucial boost for Shanghai’s ambition to become an ‘International Sports City.’” A sponsor even admitted: “After Djokovic’s confirmation, our brand exposure inquiries surged 200% in a single day, a draw unmatched by other players.”

Meanwhile, the secondary market has seen ticket prices triple to quintuple. A resale platform showed that original night session tickets priced at 1,280 yuan were resold for 5,000 yuan, with fans still commenting “Looking for tickets.” The organizers reiterated a strict ban on scalping and promised to strengthen ticket regulation.

One match, one legend, one city’s tennis memory. When the 24-time Grand Slam champion and four-time Shanghai winner steps back onto the courts of Qizhong Tennis Center, it is more than just a match — it is a resonance of tennis culture and city emotions spanning over a decade. As Djokovic previously said: “The cheers from Shanghai fans are one of the most special memories in my career.” This time, Chinese fans are telling the world with sold-out tickets in seconds: the legend never walks alone.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)