SHANGHAI, CHINA — Former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic is set to make his return to competitive tennis at the Rolex Shanghai Masters next month, tournament organizers confirmed on Tuesday. The 24-time Grand Slam champion, who has not played an official match since his US Open semi-final defeat earlier in September, will seek his fifth title at the prestigious event, which runs from October 1 to October 12 at the Qi Zhong Tennis Center.
The Best-of-Three Theory
Djokovic’s unexpected commitment to the Masters 1000 tournament comes after a season of reduced participation, with the 38-year-old having prioritized Grand Slams and skipped several major events. Following his loss to Carlos Alcaraz at Flushing Meadows, Djokovic offered a critical insight into his future scheduling, stating he believes he has a better chance against the sport’s younger elite in the shorter format.
“I do fancy my chances a bit more in best-of-three,” the world No. 4 admitted. “That could serve me better in the matchups against them.” His return to Shanghai, Asia’s only Masters 1000 event, is widely seen as an intentional move to test this theory against his main rivals.
Facing the New Generation: Djokovic’s Challenges
Despite his formidable record, the four-time champion will face several significant hurdles in Shanghai:
- The Top Two: The draw will be headlined by World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and World No. 2 Jannik Sinner. Djokovic has recently struggled against this duo in best-of-five matches, making his first best-of-three encounter with them since the US Open a critical test of his form.
- Physicality at 38: At 38, managing his body is paramount. Playing deep into a high-intensity Masters 1000 event requires consistent physical exertion, especially against faster, younger opponents like Alexander Zverev and former champion Daniil Medvedev who are also confirmed for the field.
- Lack of Match Play: Having played a significantly lighter schedule in 2025, Djokovic lacks the consistent match rhythm of his competitors, which could be a factor in the early rounds.
A Familiar Hunting Ground
Djokovic is one of the most successful players in the history of the Shanghai tournament, having lifted the trophy in 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2018. His participation provides a much-needed morale boost for his team as he looks to close out the 2025 season strongly. Following Shanghai, Djokovic is also confirmed to play in the six-player Six Kings Slam in Riyadh (Oct 15-18) and the ATP 250 event in Athens (Nov 2-8), an event owned by his family. His entries for the Paris Masters and the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin remain unconfirmed.
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