Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion from Serbia, returns to the court this week at the Shanghai Masters in east China’s Shanghai Municipality. This marks his first tournament since an early September loss to Carlos Alcaraz at the U.S. Open.
In Shanghai last year, Djokovic reached the men’s singles final but fell in straight sets to Italy’s Jannik Sinner, now the world No.2 and second seed. With Sinner drawing Daniel Altmaier of Croatia in the first round, the stage is set for another potential high-stakes showdown.
Seeded fourth, Djokovic opens his campaign against Croatia’s Martin Cilic. A win would not only kickstart his fall season but also keep alive his hope of facing Sinner again in the semi-finals—a rematch he’s eager to secure.
"I'd love to have a chance to play Jannik," Djokovic said, recalling their final clash in Shanghai last year. "We'll see. Obviously, he's been winning most of the matches that we've played against each other lately. Hopefully, I get my chance again."
As the tournament unfolds against the bustling backdrop of Shanghai, all eyes will be on the former finalist’s quest for redemption and the young talents vying for the title. Can Djokovic rewrite history on the courts of the Shanghai Masters? Stay tuned.
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Djokovic looks forward to playing Sinner again at Shanghai Masters
cgtn.com
