Unlike the US Open, Djokovic can pose a real threat to Alcaraz and Sinner at the Shanghai Masters.

Holding 24 Grand Slam championships, Djokovic’s legacy is well established, but his ambition to keep enhancing his resume remains impressive. "I still aim to participate fully in all the Grand Slam tournaments next year," the 38-year-old Serbian stated following his defeat to Alcaraz at the US Open. Now, with the Shanghai Masters approaching, tennis experts widely believe Djokovic still has enough energy to trouble the younger players on court.

The year 2025 has not been particularly fruitful for Djokovic. Apart from claiming his 100th ATP singles title at the Geneva Open, he has had few other significant successes. However, as the Shanghai Masters nears, New Zealand tennis analyst and expert Simon Rea believes the Serbian could turn things around in Shanghai. Rea shared his insights on the latest episode of the Australian Open official channel.

During a discussion with hosts Xave and Brie, the seasoned tennis commentator highlighted how the best-of-three format at the Shanghai Masters benefits Djokovic: "He mentioned at the US Open press conference that he feels he can unleash more energy in best-of-three matches, especially against younger players, compared to the more demanding best-of-five format."

"In best-of-three events, you usually conserve more stamina by the semifinals because earlier rounds require less energy," Rea explained, noting this gives Djokovic an excellent chance to redeem himself after his US Open loss at the Shanghai Masters in October.

He also pointed out that this format could threaten the world’s top two players, Sinner and Alcaraz: "That extra bit of energy at critical moments might determine whether he can overcome Sinner or Alcaraz in the closing stages. Compared to best-of-five matches, best-of-three gives him a better chance to gain an advantage."

After all, Djokovic himself admitted he was drained during his US Open match against Alcaraz. "Unfortunately, I ran out of energy after the second set," Djokovic said. "I could keep up with him and maintain the rhythm in the first two sets, but after that, I couldn’t match his pace while he kept going. That’s also how I felt when playing Sinner this year. Best-of-five matches are truly tough for me."

This year, Djokovic was defeated by Sinner in both the French Open and Wimbledon semifinals. But could the Shanghai Masters become a key turning point for him? It’s worth watching.

Despite setbacks this season, Djokovic still has strong supporters. This is partly because he has mostly only played in Grand Slam events this year. Aside from his win in Geneva, the Serbian legend has barely competed in other tournaments. Therefore, his announcement to participate in the 2025 Shanghai Masters surprised and delighted fans alike.

"Shanghai is lucky, and so are we. Whenever there’s a chance to watch Djokovic play, we never want to miss it," said former pro player Mark Knowles about the decision. On the other hand, considering Djokovic’s past remarks about the physical demands of the tennis season, many are curious why he has chosen to invest more effort in this tournament this year.

However, just a few days ago, renowned coach Mouratoglou named Djokovic the "toughest" player. So fans can eagerly anticipate witnessing another masterful performance from him in China.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Spark)