Djokovic Returns to Action Against Cilic in Shanghai Masters
Novak Djokovic kicks off his Shanghai Masters campaign against Marin Cilic on Friday. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is looking to make a strong impression after a four-week break.
“You need the top players, particularly, to sit down and roll up their sleeves and really care...”
Novak Djokovic begins his Shanghai Masters campaign on Friday against Croatia's Marin Cilic, ranked 94th in the world. Djokovic holds a significant advantage in their head-to-head rivalry, leading 19-2. Their last encounter was in 2022 at the Tel Aviv Open, where Djokovic won in straight sets.
After a four-week break, Djokovic is looking to regain his momentum on the ATP tour. He last competed at the US Open in early September, where he was eliminated by Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals. By cutting back on the number of tournaments he plays, Djokovic aims to maintain his top ranking and extend his successful career.
Novak Djokovic believes that top players need to take a more active role in revamping the tennis calendar, stating that discussions about reorganizing the schedule have been ongoing for at least 15 years, yet players remain “still not united enough.” This lack of unity hinders meaningful change, according to Djokovic, who emphasizes that players must invest time and energy into understanding the system and pushing for reform.
The intense schedule has sparked debate among players, with world number one Carlos Alcaraz and fellow Grand Slam champions Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek expressing frustration over the number of tournaments and mandatory events. Alcaraz recently withdrew from the Shanghai Masters to rest, citing physical issues, while Swiatek suggested she might skip some mandatory tournaments to maintain her physical and mental well-being.
As a 24-time Grand Slam champion, Djokovic has experienced the evolution of the tennis calendar firsthand. He has been calling for changes to the schedule for years, even opposing the extension of Masters 1000 events to two weeks. Djokovic believes that players need to sit down together and work towards reforming the system, rather than just voicing their concerns publicly.
Djokovic notes that reforming the tennis calendar won't be easy, as contracts for Masters events are locked in for decades, making any reversal unlikely. He also points out that some players hold differing views, with Zheng Qinwen defending the current system, arguing that the strongest players survive.
Top tennis stars Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, and Iga Swiatek have reignited the debate over the packed tennis calendar, expressing concerns over the number of tournaments and mandatory events. Alcaraz withdrew from the Shanghai Masters citing physical issues, while Swiatek suggested she might skip some mandatory tournaments to maintain her physical and mental well-being.
Novak Djokovic, speaking in Shanghai where he lost to Jannik Sinner last year, described the issue as "very complex" and noted that similar complaints have been ongoing for over 15 years without much change. As a 24-time Grand Slam champion, Djokovic empathizes with players who are against the current schedule, having opposed the extension of Masters 1000 events to two weeks himself.
Djokovic believes the main obstacle to reforming the tennis calendar is the lack of unity among players. He thinks that top players need to come together, invest time and energy, and really care about making changes happen. Simply voicing concerns publicly won't lead to meaningful change, according to Djokovic.
While some players, like Swiatek and Alcaraz, argue that the schedule is unsustainable and contributes to injuries, others like Zheng Qinwen see it as a test of resilience. Zheng believes the strongest players survive, and that's the rule in her mind.
“More than 15 years ago I was talking about us needing to come together and reorganise the schedule,” said the 38-year-old, a 24-time Grand Slam champion.
“It's an individual sport... at the end of the day you can still make choices... (but) there are people who just don't want to change things in our sport for the better... when it comes to the players' welfare.”
Djokovic emphasized that players are "still not united enough" and lack sufficient investment in time and energy to drive meaningful change in the tennis calendar.
“You need the top players, particularly, to sit down and roll up their sleeves and really care,” he said.
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