Novak Djokovic will return to action at the penultimate Masters 1000 event of the season in Shanghai. The Serb is the most decorated player at a notable event, claiming four titles between 2012 and 2018 and accumulating a 34-5 score.
ADVERTISEMENT
Djokovic's most recent Shanghai campaign came in 2019, competing as the defending champion and seeking the fifth title. World no. 1 passed two obstacles before falling in the quarter-final, ending his streak of eight consecutive semi-finals at the premium ATP event.
Thus, the world's best player lost crucial points in his year-end no. 1 battle with Rafael Nadal. Novak started his ninth Shanghai Masters with a 6-3 6-3 victory over the young Canadian Denis Shapovalov in 70 minutes. It was their third meeting, and the more experienced player earned the third win, playing well and continuing where he left in Tokyo a week earlier.
The Serb produced another fine display in China, extending his streak in this country in front of the partisan crown.
Djokovic dropped eight points behind the initial shot, saving the only break point he faced and mounting the pressure on the 20-year-old.
ADVERTISEMENT
Shapovalov could not follow that pace, losing 46% of the points in his games and suffering three breaks from six chances offered to his opponent. Novak tamed his strokes nicely after hitting 21 winners and 12 unforced errors.
Also, he landed numerous service winners and controlled the pace in the quickest and more extended exchanges en route to a rock-solid victory. The defending champion made a reliable start, serving at 76% in the opener and losing one point in his games!
Standing powerless on the return, Denis felt the pressure in his games and faced issues in the second game of the encounter. The Canadian saved two break points, avoiding an early setback and staying in touch for half an hour.
Djokovic secured a break in the seventh game when the young gun sprayed a backhand error, moving in front and holding at love in game nine for 6-3 in 31 minutes.
ADVERTISEMENT
Novak Djokovic is preparing for his first Shanghai Masters since 2019.
Novak faced the only break point in the second game of the second set.
He saved it after Shapovalov's forehand mistake and held after an entertaining point, leveling the score at 1-1 and serving well in the remaining games. The youngster lost serve in the fifth game after a loose backhand, falling behind and serving to stay in the match at 3-5.
Djokovic cracked a running forehand down the line winner for three match points and converted the second with a forced error, booking a place in the third round. Seeking his ninth Shanghai Masters quarter-final, Novak faced John Isner and grabbed a 7-5, 6-3 victory, his 34th and the latest victory in China.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Serb finished the job in an hour and 14 minutes, moving into his 82nd Masters 1000 quarter-final and celebrating his 350th Masters 1000 win at 32! Djokovic served well and kept the pressure on Isner. The American fought well in the opener before experiencing a late break, losing momentum and struggling to keep the pace of world no.
1 in set number two.
Novak defeated John for the tenth time in 12 duels after playing well on serve and return. The defending champion landed in 79% of the first serve and dropped eight points in his games, challenging his opponent to follow those numbers.
Isner took only 58% of the points behind the first serve and lost serve two times in a row from the closing stages of the opening set. Djokovic hit 21 winners and 11 unforced errors, taming his strokes efficiently and pressuring the giant server with deep returns.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Serb ended 40% of the points in his games with a service winner and had the upper hand in the shortest rallies up to four strokes. Also, world no. 1 took 25 of 36 most extended exchanges, emerging over the top in style. John survived deuces in games eight and ten of the opening set.
However, he failed to reach a tie break after getting broken at love at 5-6, spraying a backhand mistake and handing the opener to his rival. Novak broke again in the second game of the second set and produced one good hold after another.
World no. 1 served for the win in game nine and fired three winners, moving into the quarter-final. After two commanding wins, Djokovic suffered a 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas in two hours and two minutes, embracing his earliest Shanghai Masters loss.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Greek beat the Serb for the second time at a Masters 1000 level, facing only one break point in the entire match and outplaying world no. 1 from the closing stages of the second set. Two rivals threw everything at each other, finishing with more winners than unforced errors.
The young gun landed 34 winners and 22 mistakes, winning two points more than his rival and outplaying him in the decider. Tsitsipas overpowered Djokovic in the shortest and mid-range rallies, leaving the opening set behind and delivering his A-game in the second and third.
Novak made a reliable start, breaking Stefanos in game two after the rival's backhand error and forging a 3-0 advantage in seven minutes! The Serb survived the seventh game and closed the opener with an unreturned serve in game nine for 6-3.
ADVERTISEMENT
The younger player lost nine points in six service games in set number two, keeping the pressure on world no. 1. Djokovic could not reach a tie break, playing a wayward forehand in the 12th game and allowing his rival to clinch the set 7-5 and force a decider.
Carried by this boost, Tsitsipas served well in the final set and trusted his chances against the world's best player. Novak missed a forehand in the fourth game, losing serve and sending his rival closer to the finish line.
Stefanos served well and sealed the deal with a smash winner at 5-3, celebrating a notable win and moving into the semi-final.
