The total age of the two players is up to 75 years and 139 days. Despite being 37 years old, Marin Cilic still showed resilience when he only lost one game in handover throughout the match. However, Djokovic took advantage of key opportunities, successfully saving all 4 break-points and winning the only ball-holding game early in set 2. With stability in a hand-to-hand shot and the ability to pass the ball effectively, the Serbian tennis player ended the match after 2 sets, thereby raising the head-to-head record to 21 wins and 7 losses against Cilic.
Speaking after the match, Djokovic praised his opponent: "Cilic is always a tough player. He has a very good feel for the ball and can beat anyone. I was under a lot of pressure, especially in the first set, but thanks to effective serve, I overcame the difficult period."
Djokovic has won the Shanghai Masters 4 times and will meet Yannick Hanfmann in round 3. Evaluating the 2025 season, he said he was satisfied with the stability of reaching the semi-finals of all 4 Grand Slams, despite losing to 2 young tennis players Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. The 24-time Grand Slam champion affirmed that he still maintains his motivation to compete: I dont play tennis just to win. I also compete for the love of the audience and want to develop this sport".
This year's Shanghai Masters tournament takes place from October 1 to 12, without Carlos Alcaraz due to injury. Djokovic also expressed his views on extending the Masters 1000 tournaments to 2 weeks, saying that it puts more pressure on athletes and is not really necessary for the current schedule.
