Djokovic Beats Cilic, Favors Masters over Slams

Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion pursuing a record 25th major, made a winning return at the Shanghai Masters by defeating Marin Cilic 7-6(2), 6-4 in a match that set a Masters-record for oldest combined age. Djokovic said he believes he has a better chance of beating world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz and No.2 Jannik Sinner at Masters 1000 events — with best-of-three matches and shorter tournament duration — than in best-of-five Slams, citing recent injuries, the physical toll and scheduling. Alcaraz withdrew from Shanghai after Tokyo, and Djokovic is slated to face Yannick Hanfmann next. The Shanghai week also featured wins by Taylor Fritz and David Goffin, and veteran players including Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev have criticized increasingly slow, homogeneous court speeds they say favor Alcaraz and Sinner. Players including Alcaraz, Sinner and Iga Świątek have warned the season is too long and intense, and Djokovic has opposed extending Masters event durations, urging a better balance in the calendar.