Novak Djokovic arrived in Shanghai on 8 October 2026 riding a wave of confidence after claiming his first tour-level title of the season at the China Open in Beijing — his 102nd career title — and is determined to carry that momentum into the Shanghai Masters.

A Historic Beijing Week

Djokovic's run to the Beijing title was eventful from the outset. He defeated reigning French Open and US Open champion Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals, before Daniil Medvedev defaulted in the semifinal when the Serb was just three points away from victory. In the final, Alex de Minaur retired with a thigh injury — though Djokovic had already taken the first set 7-6(3) and was 0-1 down in the second at the time.

'It was a phenomenal week for me, Beijing, the best week of this year, no doubt,' Djokovic said at his pre-tournament press conference in Shanghai. 'I'm trying to build momentum on that here in Shanghai as well, use the confidence, and hopefully have another great deep run in this tournament, another tournament in China where I've done very well in my career.'

Djokovic's Bond with China

The 39-year-old Serb has a remarkable record in Shanghai, having lifted the Masters title there a record four times in his career. He traces his China connection back to 2007, when he first visited for the Masters Cup — winning the edition held in 2008. The Rolex Shanghai Masters 1000 then launched in 2009 and has been a fixture on the calendar ever since.

'I enjoy playing in China. The fans, the support has been tremendous. Last week it was really something remarkable, very special in terms of the support and love that I've been getting from people on the stadium and outside,' he said, underscoring how crowd energy fuels his game.

Djokovic Pays Tribute to Kei Nishikori

Djokovic also used the press conference to acknowledge the retirement of Kei Nishikori, the Japanese former world number 4 who bid farewell to professional tennis at the Japan Open last week. 'I would like to use another opportunity to congratulate Kei for his outstanding career, a lot to be proud of,' Djokovic said.

He noted that persistent injuries remained Nishikori's greatest obstacle: 'He, unfortunately, was injured quite a lot and struggled throughout his career to keep fit. I think this probably might be the only regret that he has, that he wasn't able to maybe stay healthier longer. Because he was, when he was playing his best tennis, he was a top-5 player.' Djokovic also praised the symmetry of Nishikori retiring on home soil in front of Japanese fans.

Shanghai Opening Test: Hurkacz Awaits

Djokovic's campaign in Shanghai will open against a formidable opponent: Hubert Hurkacz, the 2023 Shanghai Masters champion. The first-round clash represents an early examination of Djokovic's form and fitness as he bids for a record-extending fifth Shanghai title. Notably, both players arrive in confident form, making this an early marquee contest of the tournament.

With the season's final stretch underway, Djokovic's Shanghai run could be pivotal to his year-end rankings standing, and all eyes will be on whether the Beijing spark carries into a deeper campaign at one of the sport's most prestigious Masters events.