Novak Djokovic is back at the Shanghai Masters in 2024, an event that has proven to be one of the most successful of his career.
The Serbian has not played in Shanghai since 2019, with the event not held for three years until 2023, when the world No 4 was not in action.
As he gears up for his quest to win a 100th ATP title, we look at Djokovic’s most impressive Shanghai milestones – and one he could reach this week.
Most Titles
Only three men have won multiple Shanghai Masters titles since the event launched in 2009, and Djokovic leads the way with an impressive four victories.
The Serbian claimed the title for the first time in 2012, and then successfully defended his title the following year.
Djokovic then regained his title in 2015, before a fourth and – to date – final triumph in 2018.
Most Finals
Djokovic has played four finals and won all four of them, and his number of finals is a joint record at the event.
The only other man to reach four finals in Shanghai was Andy Murray, who lifted the title in 2010, 2011, and 2016.
Murray’s only final defeat came to Djokovic in 2012, when the Serbian saved five championship points to prevail 5-7, 7-6(11), 6-3 – the tournament’s longest final in terms of games played.
Most Consecutive Titles
Another record Djokovic jointly holds with Murray is the number of consecutive titles won at the tournament.
Murray won back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011, while Djokovic did the same in 2012 and 2013, making them the only two men to successfully defend the Shanghai title.
And with this year’s defending champion Hubert Hurkacz absent with injury, that will remain the case for at least another year.
Most Matches Played
Unsurprisingly, considering the success he has had at the event, no one has spent more time on court in Shanghai than the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
The Serbian has played a staggering 39 matches at the Masters 1000 event, starting with his maiden appearance at the inaugural event back in 2009.
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Most Matches Won
Djokovic’s most matches played record leads nicely to his record of recording the most match wins in Shanghai.
The Serbian has won 34 of his matches at the tournament, tasting defeat just five times.
Those five losses came to Nikolay Davydenko (2009), Roger Federer (2010, 2014), Roberto Bautista Agut (2016), and Stefanos Tsitsipas (2019).
His 2019 quarter-final loss to Tsitsipas remains the only time he has been beaten before the semi-final stage. He did not play in 2011, 2017, and 2023.
Best Winning Percentage
His 34-5 record in Shanghai means he has an overall win percentage of 88.9% at the tournament.
That in itself is another record for the 37-year-old.
Most Consecutive Matches Won
Djokovic’s best run in Shanghai saw him win 13 straight matches at the event, his seventh and currently final tournament record.
The Serbian won five matches to win the title in 2012, culminating in his epic win over Murray, before winning five matches again to claim the 2013 title, battling past Juan Martin del Potro in the final.
Djokovic then eased into the semi-final of the 2014 event, though his Shanghai streak was snapped in the last four by long-term rival and eventual champion Roger Federer.
An eighth record in 2024?
Djokovic has set Shanghai records that are unlikely to be broken any time soon, and he could set another with victory in 2024.
Not only would a fifth title see him extend his most titles, most finals, match wins, and win percentage records, but it would also see him become the oldest champion in tournament history.
Federer is currently the oldest champion in Shanghai, winning the 2017 title at the age of 36 years, two months, and seven days.
Having turned 37 back in May, Djokovic would break that record by well over a year should he lift the title next weekend.