Shanghai Masters 2025 Day Three Recap

Day three at Shanghai Rolex Masters 2025 delivered its fair share of upsets and a reminder that nothing comes easily in a 96 player champion.

Novak Djokovic returned to action with a hard -fighting victory over Marin Cilic, David Goffin shocked sixth seed Ben Shelton, and the qualification Vacherot produced today’s upset by topping Alexander Bublik.

Elsewhere, Taylor Fritz survived a three-set Thriller to reach profit no. 50 in the season, while Zizou Bergs sent Casper Ruud pack after the Norwegian retired damage.

The qualifications continued to shine, with Yannick Hanfmann who knocked out a struggling Frances Tiefoe to book a blockbuster third round with Djokovic.

Day Three Shanghai Masters 2025 round of 128 results

Key matches

Novak Djokovic Def. Marin Cilic (7-6 (2), 6-4)

Novak Djokovic channeled some new tactics to overcome Marin Cilic in a 1-hour battle, which highlighted his return to turn level games since the US Open semi-final loss to Carlos Alcaraz.

Fighting moisture, the Serbs used sawdust on your hands, something you usually see in cricket when it is moist, to keep the grip on the racket and absorb the Cilics 20 first set winners.

Djokovic raised his level after a short back -Tweak and relied on sharp serving to secure his 40th Shanghai victory. He meets Yannick Hanfmann next.

David Goffin Def. Ben Shelton (6) (6-2, 6-4)

David Goffin stunned sixth seed Ben Shelton in straight sets and claimed his second top 10 victory in 2025 and snapped Shelton’s Turin Momentum.

The Belgian saved all three breaking points and took the ball super early to surpass the American, who still suffers from the shoulder problem he maintained at the US Open.

Valentine vacherot (q) def. Alexander Bublic (14) (3-6, 6-3, 6-4)

The qualifier Valentin Vacherot (no. 202) drew from today’s biggest upset and rally over the 14th seed Alexander Bublic for his first top 20 victory and Masters 1000 third round. Monegasques comeback, powered by improved baseline depth, turned the tide after losing the opener.

Yannick Hanfmann Def. Frances tiafoe (25) (6-7 (9), 6-2, 6-1)

Qualifier Yannick Hanfmann dismantled the 25th seed of Frances tiafoe in a comeback victory, which extends tiafoes slide to five straight losses (including a US Open third round).

Hanfmann, who was based on his qualified power, dominated after a marathon first-set tiebreak, which shows aggressive returns to set up a blockbuster third round with Djokovic.

Taylor Fritz (5) Def. Fabian Marozsan (2-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (1))

Fifth seed Taylor Fritz, fresh from its final loss of Tokyo to Carlos Alcaraz, mounted a rough comeback to defeat Fabian Marozsan in almost three hours meeting and secure his 50th victory in the 2025 season (34-11 on hard).

Fritz has really expired many wins this year when it is not the best, and I am hard pressed to remember a match where he did not fight tooth and nail until the last point, so it is no real surprise that he is up to 4 in the world.

Zizou Bergs Def. Casper Ruud (11) (6-3, 5-7, 1-4 to the right)

Zizou Bergs received a dramatic upset over the 11th seed Casper Ruud and continued to the third round when the Norwegian retired due to a wrist injury of 1-4 in the decision after 2 hours.

Highlights

Shanghai Masters 2025 day 4 round of 64 matches