Rolex Shanghai Masters 2025: Day 5 Brings Djokovic, Shelton, Fritz, and Chinese Stars to Center Stage
Shanghai, October 3, 2025 – The Rolex Shanghai Masters 2025 enters Day 5 with the tournament heating up as seeded stars, former champions, and local favorites prepare to battle it out at the Qi Zhong Tennis Center. Friday’s schedule is packed with blockbuster singles clashes and high-stakes doubles encounters, ensuring another unforgettable day for fans at one of Asia’s premier ATP Masters 1000 events.
With the event offering a massive USD 9,193,538 prize pool, every round raises the stakes. Day 5 promises a mix of household names such as Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz, and Frances Tiafoe, alongside rising stars like Ben Shelton and Holger Rune, and a strong representation of Chinese talent hoping to inspire the home crowd.
Stadium Court: Djokovic Headlines a Star-Studded Lineup
The Stadium Court schedule is brimming with marquee matches of Round of 64. Play begins at 12:30 PM as American sensation Ben Shelton [6] faces Belgian veteran David Goffin. Shelton, who has quickly become one of the most exciting young players on tour thanks to his powerful left-handed serve and fearless game, will be tested by Goffin’s counterpunching consistency.
Next, Argentina’s clay-court specialist Sebastian Baez takes on Denmark’s Holger Rune [10]. Rune, already a Masters champion in his young career, will aim to impose his aggressive baseline game, while Baez will seek to neutralize with relentless defense and heavy topspin.
The evening session begins not before 6:30 PM with one of the tournament’s most anticipated showdowns: Marin Cilic against Novak Djokovic [4]. Djokovic, a four-time Shanghai champion, is returning to one of his most successful events as he chases yet another Masters crown. Cilic, the former US Open winner, is known for his big serve and clean ball-striking, making this an intriguing contest between two veterans with a history of memorable battles.
To close out the Stadium Court action, Taylor Fritz [5] of the U.S. takes on Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan, the talented shot-maker who famously upset Carlos Alcaraz in Rome back in 2023. Fritz will look to use his power game to move deeper into the draw, but Marozsan has the ability to frustrate opponents with creativity and flair.
Grandstand 2: Tiafoe and Ruud in Action
Over on Grandstand 2, fans can expect a lively mix of singles and doubles action. Opening the day is American showman Frances Tiafoe [25] against German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann (Round of 64). Tiafoe’s athleticism and crowd-pleasing style make him a fan favorite everywhere he goes, while Hanfmann brings gritty determination to the court.
Next, Learner Tien, one of the brightest young Americans, faces Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic in a generational battle (Round of 128). Following that, the doubles spotlight shines on China when wildcards Juncheng Shang and Zhizhen Zhang team up to face the French pair of Corentin Moutet and Alexandre Muller (Round of 32). The local duo will enjoy massive crowd support as they aim for an upset.
The day concludes with Belgian Zizou Bergs taking on Casper Ruud [11] (Round of 64). Ruud, a three-time Grand Slam finalist, has proven himself as one of the most consistent players on tour. Bergs, however, is known for his fearless approach and will look to cause trouble.
Show Court 3: Diallo, Mannarino, and Zverev in Doubles
Show Court 3 kicks off with France’s Benjamin Bonzi meeting Canadian Gabriel Diallo [31] (Round of 64), a rising powerhouse with one of the biggest serves on tour. Later, Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo [19] takes on crafty veteran Adrian Mannarino (Round of 64), a left-hander who has troubled many higher-ranked players with his flat, unorthodox style.
In doubles action, Marcelo Melo and Alexander Zverev face the wildcard pair of Yunchaokete Bu (China) and Ray Ho (Taipei) (Round of 32). Zverev, a former singles champion in Shanghai, brings extra star power to the doubles field. The final match features Kazakhstan’s flamboyant Alexander Bublik [14] against Monaco’s qualifier Valentin Vacherot (Round of 64).
Other Courts: Packed with Talent
Day 5 also brings plenty of excitement on the outer courts:
- On Court 4, the doubles match of Neal Skupski/John-Patrick Smith vs Felix Auger-Aliassime/Robin Haase kicks off the day, followed by powerhouse duos Khachanov/Rublev and Gonzalez/Pel also in action. Singles matches include Luca Nardi vs Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard [32] and Jaume Munar vs Flavio Cobolli [22].
- On Court 6, top doubles seeds Marcelo Arevalo/Mate Pavic [1] begin their campaign against alternates Daniel Altmaier/Camilo Ugo Carabelli, while singles action features Ugo Humbert [21] vs Jordan Thompson, Mattia Bellucci vs Tomas Machac [20], and Tallon Griekspoor [27] vs Jenson Brooksby [PR].
- On Court 7, doubles excitement continues with Andre Goransson/Alex Michelsen against Francisco Cabral/Lucas Miedler [8], followed by Gonzalez/Molteni [7] against Gonzalez/Pel. Later, Diallo teams with Brandon Nakashima to take on Americans Christian Harrison and Evan King [6].
A Day of Blockbusters and Local Pride
Day 5 of the Rolex Shanghai Masters 2025 will be remembered for its blockbuster matchups and the blend of local and international storylines. With Djokovic making his much-anticipated return to the Shanghai stage, Fritz and Shelton carrying American hopes, and Chinese stars like Shang and Zhang energizing the home crowd, Friday’s action encapsulates the global spirit of this Masters event.
As the tournament moves closer to its decisive rounds, fans can expect nothing less than world-class tennis under the Shanghai lights.
