David Goffin began his 2025 Shanghai Masters campaign with a strong performance, rallying after a narrow first-set setback to overcome Alexandre Müller. After dropping the opening set in a tiebreaker 6-7 (6), Goffin found his rhythm and dominated the rest of the match, sealing the victory with a final score of 6-1, 6-1. The 34-year-old Belgian, once ranked as high as seventh in the world, showcased his experience and resilience, reminding fans of his capabilities on the ATP tour.
Goffin has a rich competitive history that includes reaching the quarterfinals of four Grand Slam tournaments and capturing six ATP titles. He notably reached the final of a Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati, which further highlights his pedigree on the tennis circuit.
Meanwhile, the Shanghai Masters has seen its top-seeded players granted first-round byes, with contenders like Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic waiting for their entry into the tournament. Sinner, who recently clinched the title at the China Open in Beijing, will not begin his campaign until Friday along with Djokovic, the fourth seed. Djokovic, a veteran of the sport at 38 years old, has triumphed in Shanghai on four occasions and is eager to return to form after his recent exit in the semifinals of the US Open against Carlos Alcaraz.
Alcaraz, the current world No. 1, showcased his own talent by winning the Japan Open final against Taylor Fritz earlier this week. However, following his triumph in Tokyo, Alcaraz declared on social media that he would be unable to compete in Shanghai due to ongoing physical concerns. “I’ve been struggling with some physical issues, and after consulting with my team, we believe the best decision is to rest and recover,” he wrote.
As the Shanghai Masters progresses, all eyes will be on Djokovic and Sinner as they look to solidify their status within the tournament, while Goffin hopes to build on his impressive first-round performance in pursuit of further success.
