The 2025 Shanghai Masters kicks off, with Djokovic making a "flashy" appearance.

When38The 36-year-old Djokovic clinched it at the last moment.2025The schedule for the Shanghai Rolex Masters tournament, this...96The official tournament bracket, finalized through the drawing process, has now been engraved."Legendary Return"The mark he leaves behind. As a four-time tournament champion and the athlete with the most titles in the event's history, this player holds24The legend with multiple Grand Slam titles will now4Seeded player takes the court3/4The player is now aiming for Shanghai's fifth championship trophy and a career milestone, with the best-of-three format adding even more excitement and unpredictability to his quest for victory.

Top half: Top-seeded player absent, as China's contingent faces a chaotic bracket setup.

Originally led by top-seeded Alcaraz1/4The quarterfinal spots in the section have suddenly become uncertain following his withdrawal before the tournament. The absence of this season's French Open and U.S. Open champion— who claimed both titles this year—has added significant intrigue to the race for the final four berths. Chinese players are now the center of attention in this section: Wu Yibing, competing with a wildcard, will face a qualifier in the first round, while Shang Juncheng is set to take on Kovacevic. Both players must seize their opportunities if they hope to advance deep into the competition.

2/4The district is truly a gem."Meat grinder"Battlefield,3Recent form has been sluggish for No. 1 seed Zverev, who suffered his fifth consecutive loss to Medvedev in the Beijing Open quarterfinals. Meanwhile, his potential third-round opponent, Mickelson, and the possible fourth-round matchup against Lehecka are both far from pushovers.8Top-seeded Musetti withdraws mid-tournament in Beijing.12The No. 1 seed, Aliassime, has been on a month-long post-marriage break, leaving his form uncertain—and further heightening the unpredictability of this bracket. Meanwhile, Chinese players Bu Yunchaokete and Zhou Yi are set for a tough showdown in this section, facing off against Hu, respectively.·Serundolo and De Jong will have to give it their all in the first round.

Bottom half: Djokovic holds court3/4District, chasing both revenge and records simultaneously

3/4The district showdown has become the tournament's main attraction, thanks to the presence of Djokovic—currently the all-time leader in Grand Slam hard-court match wins.194The legend of Sheng will kick off in the second round, facing the winner between former US Open champion Cilic and Basilashvili in the first match, before taking on his opponent in the third round.25Top-seeded Tiafoe is likely to face [opponent] in the fourth round.13Top seed Rublev. The biggest threat to him is6Top-seeded Sheldon——The newly crowned champion of the Toronto Masters is at the peak of his career, but Djokovic’s physical endurance and tournament experience give him a clear edge in a best-of-three format—just as experts have pointed out."Reaching the semifinals usually allows athletes to conserve more energy, and that extra burst of power at crucial moments can often be the deciding factor in victory or defeat."For Djokovic, this quarterfinal isn’t just a crucial step toward lifting the trophy—it’s also a powerful response to his recent losses at this year’s French Open and Wimbledon against younger rivals.

4/4The section is guarded by defending champion Sinner, who…2The No. 1 seed, who claimed the title last year by defeating Djokovic in the final, will face either Altmaier or the qualifier in the second round this year, setting up a relatively smooth path to advancement.5Top seed Fritz, meanwhile, will have to defeat Wawrinka,"Serve Cannon"Multiple levels like Perrycar—round four could involve10Top-seeded Rune makes an appearance"Rolex spokesperson Derby"Chinese player Zhang Zhizhen, competing as a wildcard, will face Baez in the match to determine who advances against Rune, potentially creating a home-country upset.

Ultimate Vision: A Legendary Encounter Revisited—Shanghai Meets the New King?

The outcome of this year's tournament will largely depend on Djokovic's explosive form. In the top half of the draw, players like Zverev and Aliassime haven’t yet demonstrated outright dominance, while in the bottom half, Djokovic could potentially advance smoothly if he manages to break through.3/4The player is highly likely to face Sinner again in the semifinals, recreating last year's epic final showdown.——This is both a legendary revenge battle and a clash of power between old and new champions.

For the Chinese contingent, players like Wu Yibing and Zhang Zhizhen have drawn challenging draws, yet every one of their swings seems to echo Djokovic’s unwavering determination in a remarkable way. As the lights illuminate the Qizhong Forest Tennis Center, everyone is holding their breath—can this legendary player, who arrived in Shanghai with barely enough fuel to make it back, finally clinch his fifth title here, bringing a perfect ending to an "unbelievably tough" journey?