Djokovic charms Shanghai with serves and sincerity
Amid the sticky humidity of Qizhong Forest, Novak Djokovic dispatched Marin Cilic in straight sets, his aces slicing through the air while Mandarin phrases won over a roaring crowd, setting a tone of rediscovered ease in a grueling season.
Under the lights of Qizhong Forest Sports City, Novak Djokovic glided across the court with the poise of a player attuned to every nuance, claiming a straight-sets victory over Marin Cilic in the opening round of the Shanghai Masters. The 38-year-old’s serve proved unyielding, delivering 10 aces to his opponent’s six and repelling all four break points in a contest where the damp air amplified every slide and swing. As the final point echoed, the stadium’s energy surged, a packed house on a national holiday weekend rewarding the Serb’s blend of precision and presence.
Words that weave deeper bonds
Djokovic has always grasped the power of connection beyond the baseline, turning post-match moments into bridges across cultures. In Shanghai for his 11th appearance, where he has secured a record four titles including the Nitto ATP Finals in 2008 during its local stint, he spoke Mandarin to the delighted fans and inscribed a Chinese character on the camera lens, sparking waves of applause that lingered in the humid night.
This ritual, honed from Italian greetings in Rome to French flourishes in Paris, eases the isolation of a demanding tour. He reflected on updating his phrases over the years, noting how they repay the unwavering support that has defined his career here.
“Those are some of the phrases I’ve learned over the years, so I have to update my knowledge of the Chinese language,” Djokovic said. “it’s always a pleasure to play in front of such passionate fans. People have been giving me lots of love and support over the years, so I try to give them back with good tennis, and also a basic knowledge of Chinese language with a few phrases.
“It was amazing to see the packed house tonight. I know it’s a national holiday and weekend, but for the first match, it’s incredible. it’s one of the most beautiful stadiums, and I totally enjoy myself.”
Humidity demands gritty adjustments
The conditions tested more than skill, with oppressive moisture turning grips slick and footing precarious on the outdoor hard courts. Djokovic resorted to sawdust for traction, changing overgrips frequently as he navigated Cilic‘s aggressive flat shots that probed deep into the corners, forcing one–two combinations to regain control with crosscourt forehands that stretched the rallies.
Against an opponent known for one of the tour’s elite serves, he held firm, varying his own delivery with slice second serves that skidded low and kick serves that climbed high, disrupting rhythm on the grippy surface. This resilience, born from accepting the shared struggle, underscores a season where mental adaptability rivals physical output. He admitted the unfamiliar mugginess, framing it as an equalizer that sharpens focus amid the sweat.
“it’s crazy humid, to be honest. I don’t recall the weather being so humid in China,” Djokovic said. “I don’t remember the last time I played in humidity like this. It is what it is… it’s the same for me, my opponent, and every other player. You just have to accept it, deal with it. A lot of sweating. The laundry bills will be quite high this week, but that’s okay.”
Serve sets stage against Hanfmann
With a 1-0 ATP head-to-head lead, Djokovic now eyes a third-round clash with Yannick Hanfmann, the German who has battled through four matches including qualifiers, his heavy baseline hitting poised to exploit any fatigue in the thick air. Hanfmann’s inside-out forehands could pull the Serb wide, but Djokovic’s serving edge—rare against Cilic’s firepower—promises to dictate points, blending underspin backhands to draw errors with down-the-line passes that punish overreaching.
The opener’s intensity, marked by defensive digs and opportunistic winners, kick-started his run on a surface that rewards versatility. He praised the performance that out-aced a serve specialist, highlighting how clutch shots extricated him from pressure, a pattern that could extend his dominance here.
“I think the serving performance was great. I aced him more than he aced me, which is not very common when you play somebody like Marin,” Djokovic reflected. “He has got one of the best serves in the world. He was very aggressive. When he feels the ball, he plays so flat, so deep.
“I dug myself out of trouble with the serve and some good shots. But it was a tough match for me, no doubt about it. it’s good sometimes to kick-start the tournament with such a match.”
As the former world No. 1 savors the crowd’s embrace, this Shanghai return feels like a reset, channeling affection and aces into momentum for deeper battles ahead, where the haze may persist but his clarity endures.
