Novak Djokovic – Foto: Leonard Zhukovsky / Shutterstock.com
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic defeated Spaniard Jaume Munar 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 in the round of 16 of the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at the Qi Zhong Tennis Center in Shanghai, China. The match, which lasted 2 hours and 41 minutes, marked Djokovic’s 11th consecutive advancement to the quarterfinals in the tournament. The world number 5 faced physical difficulties, including issues with his left ankle, but converted three out of eight break points to secure the win.
Munar, 28 years old and ranked 41st in the ATP, resisted with good first-serve performance but yielded in the third set after a decisive break. Djokovic, 38 years old, now has 34 wins in the season and is aiming for his fifth Shanghai title.
The matchup highlighted initial balance, with both players alternating moments of dominance on the hard court.
Iconic meet-up 🤩@DjokerNole greets China’s famous actor-singer celeb Wang Yibo 🎾🎤🎬#RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/8jUfTPEYKl
— Rolex Shanghai Masters (@SH_RolexMasters) October 5, 2025
Serve performance defines Djokovic’s comeback
Djokovic recorded 30 aces in the match, surpassing Munar in first-serve efficiency, winning 69% of points compared to the opponent’s 57%. This edge allowed the Serb to maintain control in crucial moments.
In the second set, Munar converted his only break point and forced a tiebreak, but Djokovic responded with 70% success on second serves. The statistic reflects the Serb’s resilience in humid and warm conditions.
- Aces: Djokovic 30, Munar 3.
- Double faults: Djokovic 0, Munar 2.
- Service points: Djokovic 60, Munar 31.
These numbers reinforce the Serb’s dominance in service games, winning 14 compared to the Spaniard’s 7.
The match exposed experience differences, with Djokovic adjusting tactics to exploit Munar’s unforced errors.
Munar’s 2025 run impresses
Jaume Munar reached the round of 16 after victories over Marton Fucsovics, Flavio Cobolli, and Yoshihito Nishioka, marking his first time at this stage in a Masters 1000 on synthetic clay. The Spaniard accumulated 18 wins on hard courts this season.
His solid defense tested Djokovic, especially in the second set, where he saved break chances. Munar, who entered the top 40 in September, showed improvement in break point conversions, with 41% success rate this year.
However, fatigue from three previous matches weighed in the third set. The result interrupts a positive streak for the Spaniard, who was seeking his 20th ATP Tour quarterfinal.
Munar praised the match intensity in a post-game press conference, highlighting the learning against a veteran.
Head-to-head history between Djokovic and Munar reveals Serbian dominance
The two faced off for the second time, with Djokovic leading 2-0 in the head-to-head. Their first encounter was in 2018 at Roland Garros, where the Serb won 7-6(1), 6-4, 6-4 on clay.
Seven years later in Shanghai, the pattern repeated with contested sets. Munar, then 21, showed potential but lacked consistency against the current Olympic two-time champion.
Djokovic, with 416 Masters 1000 wins, surpassed Roger Federer as the oldest to reach quarterfinals at this level, at 38 years old. His Shanghai record is 40-6.
The victory boosts the Serb to 33-10 for the season, including semifinals in all 2025 Grand Slams.
Djokovic’s path in the tournament so far
The Serb started the campaign with a win over Marin Cilic 7-6(2), 6-4 in the second round, in a match lasting 1 hour and 45 minutes. The veteran Croatian pressured in the first-set tiebreak.
In the third round, Djokovic beat Yannick Hanfmann 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, in 2 hours and 45 minutes, dealing with nausea and high humidity. The German qualifier served well but folded in the deciding set.
These results total three wins in Shanghai, with Djokovic adapting to the time zone after the US Open. He avoided serious injuries but monitors his ankle.
- Wins in the week: Cilic (1h45), Hanfmann (2h45), Munar (2h41).
- Total sets: 8 played, 7 won.
- Next opponent: Zizou Bergs, 25-year-old Belgian.
Bergs advanced by defeating another Spaniard, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, in straight sets.
Shanghai Masters favors veterans like Djokovic
The tournament, held since 2009, distributes US$ 9.1 million in prizes, with the champion taking US$ 1.3 million. Djokovic holds the record for titles, with four wins (2012, 2013, 2015, and 2018).
In 2024, he lost the final to Jannik Sinner, the current number 1, who withdrew this year due to a leg injury. The absence of Carlos Alcaraz, due to physical issues, opened the lower bracket.
Djokovic has 40 wins at the event, the first to reach that mark in six different Masters 1000s. His playing style, with strong returns and endurance, suits Shanghai’s fast courts.
Local fans applauded the long rallies, averaging 8 exchanges per point in the match against Munar. The Serb spoke Mandarin post-match, connecting with the crowd.
The quarterfinal advancement reinforces his goal of titles in major events, prioritizing Grand Slams and selected Masters in the final stretch of his career.
