Djokovic faces a favorable opponent in his opening match at the 2025 Shanghai Masters

Novak Djokovic has an opportunity to make a strong run at the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters 2025, where he currently holds the runner-up title.

Djokovic will meet familiar rival Marin Cilic in the second round of the Shanghai Masters 2025, scheduled for October 4th.

Cilic, 37 years old, is one of the few players to have won a Grand Slam during the "Big 4" era (Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Andy Murray), alongside Stanislas Wawrinka, Dominic Thiem, and Juan Martin del Potro. The experienced Croatian has claimed 21 ATP Tour titles, reached a career-high ranking of world No. 3, and earned a silver medal in men’s doubles at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Although past his career peak and playing selectively throughout the year, Cilic still demonstrates the caliber of a player who once contested major titles during the "Big 4" dominance. He reached the quarterfinals at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, won two ATP Challenger Tour events, and performed impressively at Wimbledon by defeating then world No. 4 Jack Draper before exiting in the round of 16.

However, in head-to-head encounters with Novak Djokovic, Marin Cilic has struggled. Out of 21 matches, the 2014 US Open champion has lost 19 times. Cilic’s last victory over Nole came more than seven years ago at the 2018 Queen's Club Championships final.

In the first round of this year’s Shanghai Masters, Cilic defeated the 2021 Indian Wells finalist Nikoloz Basilashvili in straight sets. The match featured two players once known for their powerful strokes—Cilic proved more precise and composed at critical moments to secure his place in the next round.

Djokovic, seeded and thus exempt from the first round, could claim his 20th win over Cilic in their next meeting. The Grand Slam record-holder would then face either the 25th seed Frances Tiafoe or qualifier Yannick Hanfmann. If all goes well, Nole may meet Jannik Sinner in the semifinals.

Djokovic is the defending runner-up at the Shanghai Masters, having lost to Sinner in last year’s final, ending his undefeated streak in finals at this prestigious tournament.

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