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Novak Djokovic Confirms Massive Shanghai Participation After US Open Heartbreak

Originally posted on EssentiallySports
By Firdows Matheen | Last updated Sep 23, 2025 11:03 AM ET

Following his tough loss at the US Open against World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic’s future looked uncertain. The Serb entered 2025 with two big goals: a 100th career tour title and a 25th Grand Slam. He got his 100th in Geneva. That left only the Slam. But when he fell in the semifinals in New York, at the last slam of the season, questions started flying. Would he come back again? With the Asian swing approaching, doubt was in the air.

The short answer? Yes, he is! The 38-year-old legend is back on a court he loves. He will return at the Shanghai Rolex Masters! The tournament’s official X page dropped the announcement, posting: “He’s back

Our 4-time champ, @DjokerNole will return to Shanghai this year!” How exciting is that?

Novak Djokovic has been out on the practice courts in Athens over the past week. His name stayed on the Shanghai entry list, keeping fans hopeful. Still, with his 2025 focus locked only on Grand Slams, skipping warmups ahead of Wimbledon and the US Open, that hope felt fragile.

He's back

Our 4-time champ, @DjokerNole will return to Shanghai this year!#RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/PaF2DPfcM5

— Rolex Shanghai Masters (@SH_RolexMasters) September 23, 2025

Now it’s real. He’s heading back to Shanghai, a tournament close to his heart. It’s a place where he stands alone as the king. He owns the record for the most Shanghai Masters titles, winning it four times in 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2018. On these hard courts, he built his dominance and became the tournament’s all-time leader. Last year was painful. He lost in the final to Jannik Sinner. This year? It could be different. What do you think?

This article first appeared on EssentiallySports and was syndicated with permission.

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