Shanghai Masters 2025 Tennis Tournament: Is Djokovic Holding the Winning Cards?
Carlos Alcaraz is not participating, and Sinner has withdrawn due to injury, leaving Djokovic with a major chance to win his first Masters 1000 title since Paris 2024. The key question is whether he can make the most of this opportunity.
To further demonstrate this chance, look at the tournament’s Top 6 seeds. Ben Shelton (6), Taylor Fritz (5), and Alexander Zverev (3) have also exited following Alcaraz (1) and Sinner (2). Djokovic (4) remains the highest seed still competing in Shanghai.
Sinner withdrawal, the situ ation completely changed
Jannik Sinner’s retirement in the third round due to cramping while facing Tallon Griekspoor (seeded 27) marked a major turning point at the Shanghai Masters. The Italian, seeded second and considered a top contender for the title after Carlos Alcaraz (world No. 1) withdrew last minute due to injury, had to stop playing unexpectedly when Griekspoor led 6–7, 7–5, 3–2.
This development opened up the lower half of the draw like never before. With Taylor Fritz (world No. 4) also eliminated early in round two by Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, the 10th seed Holger Rune emerged as the strongest candidate for a semifinal spot, facing no Top 25 players on his path. Meanwhile, despite Alcaraz’s absence, the upper half still features notable names like Alex de Minaur (7), Lorenzo Musetti (8), who will meet Felix Auger-Aliassime (12) in round four. Notably, Vietnamese-born rising star Learner Tien impressed again by defeating Cameron Norrie (4) to reach the round of 16 at the 2025 Shanghai Masters.
The consecutive withdrawals of top players have turned this year’s tournament into a rare chance to witness a new Masters 1000 champion. As of now, no player who has won a Masters 1000 event in 2025 remains in Shanghai.
Djokovic is the only Top 6 seed still standing in the round of 16 at the 2025 Shanghai Masters.
Djokovic: Opportunity and Challenge
While the tournament landscape shifts, Novak Djokovic is literally battling on court. The 38-year-old player vomited multiple times during his intense third-round win against Yannick Hanfmann. Viral videos on social media show Djokovic vomiting at least twice between changeovers in the second set, as temperatures in Shanghai reached 34°C with over 80% humidity.
Despite health struggles, the world No. 4 showed the resilience of a champion, coming back to defeat Hanfmann 4–6, 7–5, 6–3 after a grueling 2 hours and 42 minutes. Commentator Nick Lester noted during a broadcast break: "Djokovic was just reported to have vomited at the changeover." Robbie Koenig emphasized, "Long rallies definitely make his condition tougher."
After the match, Djokovic admitted the conditions in Shanghai were extremely harsh: "It’s brutal. Every day it’s above 34 degrees with humidity over 80%. Especially for those playing during the day under the sun, it’s even worse. I really had to ‘weather the storm’ today. Yannick played exceptionally well from the start." On social media, the Serbian player thanked the fans: "Nights in Shanghai are truly unique. Your energy and support helped me get through it all."
Despite physical difficulties, Djokovic currently has the clearest path to a Masters 1000 title since the 2024 Paris Masters. In his last eight Masters appearances, he reached only two finals and was eliminated in the third round five times.
In Shanghai, Djokovic is positioned in the bottom half of the draw, where most top players have been knocked out. If he defeats Jaume Munar in the next round, he may face Gabriel Diallo or Zizou Bergs in the quarterfinals, before potentially meeting Holger Rune (if predictions hold) in the semifinals. With his experience and composure, Djokovic could capitalize on the void left by Sinner and Alcaraz to claim another major title, provided he can endure what he described as the "most brutal temperature and humidity" of his career.
"I had to fight my body, but the desire to win remains," asserted the player who has won Shanghai four times (2012, 2013, 2015, 2018).
Challenge from the Weather
Not only Djokovic but many players have been heavily affected by the weather. Holger Rune, who could become Djokovic’s potential semifinal opponent, had to check his blood pressure and use ice to cool down during a medical timeout, questioning: "Why doesn’t the ATP have a temperature limit rule?".
Before withdrawing, Jannik Sinner also admitted the conditions in Shanghai were very different from Beijing, where he recently played the China Open: "It’s much hotter and more humid here. I wasn’t sure how I would feel stepping on court," he said ahead of the tournament., Tallon Griekspoor, who benefited from Sinner’s retirement, sympathized: "The conditions have been really tough all week. We were lucky to play in the evening without sun, but when a match goes beyond two and a half hours, everyone gets exhausted. I wish Sinner a speedy recovery because no one wants to win like that."
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Phuong Chi
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