Djokovic reveals the tough reasons behind his start at the 2025 Shanghai Masters

Novak Djokovic faced a strenuous battle against Marin Cilic in round two of the Shanghai Masters this year.

Djokovic kicked off his campaign at the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters this year with a hard-fought victory over his familiar Croatian opponent, Marin Cilic, securing his place in the third round. The four-time champion of this prestigious Chinese tournament aims to capture another Masters 1000 title in the penultimate event of the season, despite facing challenging weather conditions.

The opening match against Cilic proved to be a significant challenge due to the humid conditions in Shanghai that troubled many players. "I must admit the humidity here is truly overwhelming. I can't recall the last time I played under such conditions. You have to adapt and give it your all. I sweated a lot but am pleased with how I responded.", Djokovic said after the match.

The Grand Slam record-holder was particularly satisfied with his serving performance — a key weapon that helped him overcome difficult moments against a tall and powerful opponent like Cilic. "I think my serve was really effective today. I scored more direct aces than Marin, which is quite surprising against a player like him. That gave me a good start to the tournament.", Nole added.

Although 38 years old this year and initially not planning to compete in Shanghai, Djokovic decided to participate after realizing his chances were better in best-of-three matches. In the 2025 season, Nole has mainly focused on Grand Slam events, reaching the semifinals in all four majors, and claimed his 100th ATP title on clay in Geneva.

Djokovic's next opponent at the 2025 Shanghai Masters will be Yannick Hanfmann, who caused an upset by defeating the 25th seed Frances Tiafoe in round two.

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