Djokovic revealed that his son really wants to come to China but cannot, and that young players lack unity.

During the 2025 Shanghai Masters, Djokovic openly explained why his son Stefan couldn't accompany him. The Serbian revealed that his son was eager to join him for the tournament. However, he clearly stated that children should not give up their own lives, especially their education, because of him.

At the pre-tournament press conference in Shanghai, when asked about how his son Stefan and daughter Tara view his participation, the 24-time Grand Slam champion said, “Well, my son plays tennis more, so he follows the tour more closely. He really insisted on coming to China with me. He always wants to travel with me, but he still has school, so it’s not that simple. But he truly loves tennis and the sport.”

Speaking about the motivation he gains from his children and wife Jelena, Djokovic added, “Yes, my kids and wife are my biggest supporters. Obviously, when they are at the sidelines, you see how they support me, how passionately they get involved, fighting every point with me. Seeing them in the stands is very encouraging for me. I really enjoy having them courtside.” However, he also stressed the importance of education for the kids, concluding, “At the same time, children cannot live their father's life; they must live their own.”

Former world No. 3 and 2014 US Open champion Marin Čilić will be Djokovic’s opponent in his opening match at this Shanghai Masters. The Croatian advanced to the second round by defeating Georgian player Basilashvili 6-3, 7-6(5) in the first round. Meanwhile, as the tournament’s 4th seed, Djokovic received a first-round bye. The Serbian, who has won Shanghai four times and was runner-up to Sinner last year, appeared very confident facing this longtime Balkan rival.

Djokovic leads his head-to-head against Čilić by a wide margin of 19 wins to 2 losses. Their last meeting was three years ago in the 2022 Tel Aviv Open final, where Djokovic won 6-3, 6-4.

Additionally, the 24-time Grand Slam winner believes that players complaining publicly about long schedules is ineffective; they need to “invest more personal time” to address the issue. Recently, with the Asian swing underway, this topic has again come to the forefront. On the day Sinner won the China Open, the Shanghai Masters also officially began.

Alcaraz withdrew from Shanghai due to “some physical issues” during the Japan Open. On the women’s side, world No. 1 Swiatek again criticized the schedule and hinted she might skip certain events to protect her health. A major point of controversy focuses on ATP1000 and WTA1000 events being extended to more than a week.

In a Shanghai interview, Djokovic said, “I have always opposed extending the Masters tournament duration. Even when I was chairman of the ATP Player Council, I never supported that proposal. I believe it’s not good for the players.”

Djokovic added, “For me, at my age, having a few extra rest days between matches is beneficial. But for most players, it just reduces their off days in the schedule. I do not support that.”

However, from another perspective, Djokovic acknowledged the reasons for lengthening some tournament schedules. Supporters argue that expanding the draw gives more players opportunities to compete and helps attract more investment. In theory, this allows tournaments to offer higher prize money.

The risk of injury or fatigue from playing from January to November is a central concern for many players on tour and a reason some openly express dissatisfaction. However, 38-year-old Djokovic believes every player can freely choose how to manage their schedule, a view also shared by Sinner. Djokovic also questioned why players who participate in exhibition matches complain publicly about tight schedules.

Regarding players who complain about long schedules, Djokovic gave straightforward advice: “As a player who has competed at the highest level for over twenty years, I can say that players are not united enough.”

“Players don’t get involved enough when they should; they just make some comments, complain a bit, then walk away. When issues resurface later, they come back to complain again. But actually, you have to invest time and energy yourself—not your agent, not your team, not your parents, not anyone else, but you. You need to truly understand how the system works, what can be changed, and what improvements can be made for the players’ benefit.”(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Spark)