Novak Djokovic is back in Shanghai for the 2025 Rolex Masters, marking his first non-Grand Slam appearance since May. The Serbian legend, currently seeded No. 4, has already won this tournament four times—in 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2018—and was a finalist last year. His return to the hard courts of Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena comes after a season of near-misses at the Grand Slams, where he reached the semifinals in all four but failed to clinch a title.
Training Intensity and Physical Form
Observers in Shanghai have noted Djokovic’s sharpness during practice sessions. His movement, timing, and intensity suggest a player determined to reclaim dominance. After a season that included a 100th career title in Geneva and a runner-up finish in Miami, Djokovic appears physically prepared and mentally focused for another deep run in a Masters 1000 event.
Head-to-Head History with Cilic
Djokovic’s second-round opponent, Marin Cilic, enters the match after a straight-sets win over Nikoloz Basilashvili. The Croatian fired 17 aces and won 89% of his first-serve points, showcasing strong form. However, history heavily favors Djokovic in this matchup. The Serbian leads their head-to-head 19–2, including a perfect 9–0 record on hard courts.
“Djokovic dominates his rivalry with Marin Cilic, holding a commanding 19-2 head-to-head lead.”
Cilic’s Road to Recovery
Cilic’s 2025 season has been marked by resilience. After recovering from multiple knee surgeries, he returned to the tour with Challenger titles in Girona and Nottingham. His win in the first round of Shanghai signals a potential resurgence, though facing Djokovic presents a formidable challenge.
Conclusion
With Djokovic looking sharp and focused in training, and his historical dominance over Cilic well established, fans can expect a high-level performance from the Serbian star. The Shanghai Masters could be the stage for another milestone in his illustrious career.
ATP Shanghai - Novak Djokovic's projected path
Novak Djokovic in 2025
At the moment ranked no.5, Djokovic played his last match on the 3rd of October when he lost to Unknown Player bye in the 1st round in Shanghai (draw).
Presently, during this year Novak has managed to achieve a 31-10 record. The Serbian conquered 1 title in Geneva. The Serbian was the finalist in Miami.
ATP Shanghai - Marin Cilic's projected path
Cilic in Shanghai, ranking, and results in 2025
Now ranked no.94, Marin owns a composed 23-16 win-loss record in 2025. The Croatian is currently competing in Shanghai where he toppled the world no.100 Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-3 7-6(5).
Marin Cilic will square off with the world no.5 Novak Djokovic in the 2nd round on Friday at 6:30 pm on STADIUM COURT. The head to head is 19-2 for Djokovic.
Marin conquered 2 titles in 2025 in the Girona Challenger and the Nottingham 2 Challenger. The Croatian got to the final in the Madrid Challenger.
The Croatian won 21 titles in his career: 7 on hard courts, 2 on clay courts, 9 on indoor courts and 3 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
He is also scheduled to play in Stockholm (BNP Paribas Nordic Open) on the 13th of October and Basel (Swiss Indoors Basel) on the 20th of October.
Novak Djokovic and Marin Cilic played each other 21 times. The head to head is 19-2 for Djokovic.