World no. 4 Novak Djokovic will compete in his fifth Shanghai Masters final, reaching the title clash at one of his favorite events for the first time since 2018. Novak faced Taylor Fritz in the semi-final and scored a tight 6-4, 7-6 victory in an hour and 59 minutes, surviving an injury scare in the second set and arranging the title clash versus world no.
ADVERTISEMENT
1 Jannik Sinner. Djokovic defeated Fritz for the tenth time in as many duels, maintaining his incredible streak against the American players and moving a win away from his 100th ATP title. The Serb served at 70% and defended both break points, keeping the pressure on the other side.
Taylor gave everything to follow that pace, defending eight of nine break points and pushing the 24-time Major champion to the limits. However, world no. 7 missed his chances in the eighth game of the second set and squandered a set point in the tie break, missing an opportunity to extend the battle.
Novak tamed his strokes nicely and landed 26 winners and 25 unforced errors.
Fritz added 21 winners and 31 mistakes to his tally, hitting more service winners but losing the edge from the baseline.
ADVERTISEMENT
Djokovic built the advantage in the shortest and most advanced exchanges, overpowering his rival and remaining on the course toward the 41st Masters 1000 crown. The veteran played a couple of incredible shots on the return at 2-2 in the second set.
He missed break points and injured his left leg, feeling the pain and receiving a medical timeout. The Serb endured the efforts and sealed the deal in straight sets, hoping to recover for Sunday's final versus Jannik Sinner.
The four-time champion made a reliable start, serving well in the opening set and delivering a single break from six opportunities that sent him in front. Djokovic endured an extended rally in the first game of the encounter and welcomed the rival's mistake for three break chances.
The American erased them with winners and held with a forehand winner, avoiding an early setback.
ADVERTISEMENT
Novak Djokovic will face Jannik Sinner in the Shanghai Masters final.
The crowd favorite left those chances behind and closed the second game with a drop shot winner, locking the result at 1-1.
Taylor performed well behind the initial shot in the third game, drawing the rival's mistake and holding at love for 2-1. Novak secured the fourth game with a service winner and made a push on the return in the next one. Novak cracked a backhand down the line winner for three break chances and seized the second after Taylor's backhand error, moving 3-2 in front and settling into a fine rhythm.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Serb drew the rival's mistake in the sixth game and painted a cracking backhand down the line winner for a hold at love and a 4-2 advantage. Djokovic caused Fritz's mistake in the seventh game, generating a break chance.
World no. 7 saved it with a powerful serve and landed another, remaining within one break deficit. Novak closed the eighth game at 30 and served for the opening set at 5-4.
The legend painted a backhand winner for three set points and converted the second with a booming serve for 6-4 after 38 minutes.
Fritz landed an ace at the beginning of the second set and closed the third game at 30 to forge a 2-1 advantage. Djokovic responded with an ace in the fourth game and made the ultimate push in the next one, firing up his backhand and hoping to grab a decisive break.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Serb landed a backhand down the line winner from an impossible position for 30-30, extending the game with another cracking backhand and creating three break chances. Novak hurt his left leg on the first and missed the following two, allowing Taylor to survive and remain in contention after a forced error.
Djokovic held after deuces in the sixth game and bounced back from 0-40 on the return in the next one. The American kept his composure, holding after a basic error from his opponent and moving 4-3 in front.
Struggling for the second straight service game, Novak played against two break points in the eighth game.
The veteran denied them and held, locking the result at 4-4. They served well in the upcoming games, and world no. 4 received treatment on his left leg and hip at 5-6. The Serb climbed back from 0-30 with two winners and landed a forehand winner to close the game and introduce a tie break.
ADVERTISEMENT
They served well in the opening five points before Fritz grabbed a mini-break at 3-2 after Djokovic's loose forehand. The American led 5-3 before hitting a costly double fault, bringing his opponent back to the positive side.
Novak hit a service winner for 5-5 before missing a forehand in the 11th point, offering Taylor a set point. World no. 7 squandered a forehand error and faced a match point after an extended rally and a loose forehand. Djokovic converted it with a volley attack and a forced error, sealing the deal and moving into his 59th Masters 1000 final.
