Tennis News

Djokovic: 'Tough day at the office'

Tested by heat, a leg issue and sheer exhaustion, Novak Djokovic described his fourth-round battle against Jaume Munar as a “tough day at the office” at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, where the Serbian dug into his deepest reserves to advance.

Pushed to his physical limits in heavy humidity, the Serbian vomited courtside on several occasions and fell to the floor after losing the second set, prompting medical support. He routinely sought relief with ice towels throughout the two-hour, 41-minute clash. Djokovic also took multiple medical timeouts for a leg issue, but again summoned his trademark resilience.

Following his spirited 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 victory against Spaniard Jaume Munar, Djokovic took to social media to reflect on the physical toll of the match.

“Tough day at the office. Very challenging physically,” Djokovic wrote. “Luckily, I have the greatest support in the world. 🫶🏼. 我爱上海”

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With his win, Djokovic set a new record. At 38 years and four months, the Serbian is now the oldest ATP Masters 1000 quarter-finalist in history, surpassing Roger Federer’s previous record (38 years, two months), which the Swiss achieved in 2019 in Shanghai. Should Djokovic claim a record-extending fifth Shanghai title, he will break his tie with Federer for the most hard-court tour-level titles in the Open Era (71).

Into the Shanghai quarter-finals for the 11th time in as many appearances, Djokovic will next meet Belgian Zizou Bergs for their maiden Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting. The Belgrade native, seeded fourth, is the highest-ranked player remaining in the draw.

Djokovic is chasing his 41st ATP Masters 1000 title and first since he triumphed in Paris in 2023. Currently third in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, Djokovic holds a 34-10 season record, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

Watch Highlights from Djokovic’s hard-fought Shanghai win vs. Munar

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Djokovic battles through injury to reach last eight

Novak Djokovic overcomes injury issues and sweltering heat as he beats Jaume Munar to continue his bid for a fifth Shanghai Masters title.

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Djokovic survives humidity, sickness & leg issue to defeat Munar in Shanghai

Novak Djokovic overcame pain in his left ankle, the Shanghai humidity and the challenge of Jaume Munar to reach the quarter-finals at the Rolex Shanghai Masters for the 11th time on Tuesday.

The Serbian received multiple medical timeouts for a leg issue during the two-hour, 40-minute clash and frequently placed an ice towel over his head during changeovers, with humidity levels exceeding 82 per cent. Djokovic threw up courtside on several occasions and collapsed to the floor after losing the second set before he received medical support.

However, despite the challenging conditions, the 38-year-old dug deep to grind down Munar 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 in one of the most physical matches of the season.

After losing the second set, Djokovic capitalised on a crucial Munar error at the start of the third set to regain momentum. Serving at 0-0, 40/15, Munar missed a simple smash wide, allowing an opening for the Serbian. Djokovic went on to break Munar’s serve and then was aggressive in the decider in an attempt to shorten the rallies. The 40-time Masters 1000 champion produced a 9.6 shot quality on the forehand in the third set, hitting at an average speed of 84 mph on that stroke to dictate and triumph.

Shot Quality measures the quality of the player’s serve, return, forehand and backhand on a 0-10 scale. They are calculated in real-time by analysing each shot’s speed, spin, depth, width, and the impact it has on the opponent.

Djokovic has reached the quarter-finals in all 11 of his Shanghai appearances, lifting the trophy a record four times. The No. 5 player in the PIF ATP Rankings is the highest-ranked left player in the draw and he will next meet Belgian Zizou Bergs.

The Serbian is chasing a record-extending 41st ATP Masters 1000 title and first since he won in Paris in 2023. Earlier this year, he lost in the Miami final to #NextGenATP Czech Jakub Mensik. The record seven-time Nitto ATP Finals champion is currently third in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, with a 35-10 standing on the year, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

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Rune 'happy with mindset' in Mpetshi Perricard win, Bergs saves 2 MPs in Shanghai

Holger Rune moved a step closer to his first ATP Masters 1000 title in almost three years on Tuesday at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, where he overcame big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-4, 6-7(7), 6-3.

The Dane, who won his lone Masters 1000 crown in Paris in 2022, had to remain patient against Mpetshi Perricard. Rune won just 27 per cent (17/63) of points on the Frenchman’s serve, according to Infosys ATP Stats, but earned two crucial breaks in the match to advance to the quarter-finals after two hours and 30 minutes. The five-time tour-level titlist now leads the 32nd seed 2-1 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

“I managed to break him twice. He was serving very well today,” Rune said. “He also showed his level against Fritz, he is a tough player to beat on this surface. The conditions were a bit better to play in today. I am very happy with my mindset today. I stayed in there every point and I was a bit frustrated I lost the second set but I came back and was determined for the third set and managed to hold my nerve.”

Rune’s best result at this level in 2025 came in Indian Wells, where he lost to Jack Draper in the final. Aiming to continue his run this week, the 10th seed will next play Tallon Griekspoor or qualifier Valentin Vacherot.

Rune is 12th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, currently 945 points behind eighth-placed Lorenzo Musetti, who is still alive in Shanghai. Rune would move to 3,290 points with a title showing at the hard-court event. The 22-year-old is aiming to make his second appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals, having fallen in the round-robin stage in 2023.

In the first match of the day, Zizou Bergs saved two match points to claw past Canadian Gabriel Diallo 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(8) and reach his maiden ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final.

The 26-year-old recovered from squandering a 4-1 lead in the decider, saving match points in the third-set tie-break at 6/7 and 7/8 before sealing victory on his third match point after two hours and 49 minutes.

After the match, Bergs was asked whether it was easier to save the match points or convert one of his opportunities.

“Well, probably the saving ones (match points) because it was on his serve,” said Bergs. “It’s easier to finish a match while serving than trying to save the match while returning. But in the end it’s really difficult. He doesn’t give me any free points. All the match points I really had to go and look for it. So, in the end, you have to stay calm, but at the same time aggressive. Luckily, I managed to do that.”

Bergs is the fifth Belgian man to reach the quarter-finals at a Masters 1000 and the second in Shanghai, joining David Goffin (2016, ‘24). He is up six spots to No. 38 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and is set to rise to a career-high on Monday. Aiming to keep his run going, Bergs could meet Novak Djokovic in the last eight. The Serbian plays Jaume Munar later on Tuesday.

“It means a lot and you probably saw it in my reaction,” said Bergs, who fell to the ground after reaching the last eight. “It’s quite amazing and I feel like my trajectory is a little different, the speed of my path is different. I’m 26 and I’m reaching continuously my career high. I know it’s not going to be only ups, and I’ve had my downs as well this year, but I’m really curious to see where my potential’s going to bring me.”

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Alcaraz takes on amateurs in Million Dollar One Point Slam

World number one Carlos Alcaraz will headline the new Million Dollar One Point Slam, which pits amateurs against professionals before January’s Australian Open.

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Raducanu retires ill in Wuhan Open first round

British number one Emma Raducanu looks devoid of energy and appears to struggle with the hot and humid conditions before retiring in China.

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How Sinner's Shanghai loss impacts year-end No. 1 battle with Alcaraz

Jannik Sinner’s hopes of securing ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours are dwindling.

Carlos Alcaraz is in full command of his year-end No. 1 battle with the Italian following Sinner’s retirement in the third set of his third-round match at the Rolex Shanghai Masters against Tallon Griekspoor.

Alcaraz leads Sinner by 2,540 points in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, which serves as a barometer for the year-end No. 1 battle. The honour is not completely out of reach for the Italian, but he will need to be close to perfect the rest of the season to have any chance.

Sinner is next scheduled to compete in Vienna before the final ATP Masters 1000 event of the season in Paris and the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin. The 24-year-old could earn a maximum 3,000 points at those events.

Alcaraz is next scheduled to play in Paris and at the Nitto ATP Finals, giving him a chance to earn 2,500 points if he does not accept a wild card into another tournament this season.

Had Sinner successfully defended the Rolex Shanghai Masters title, he would have pulled to within 1,590 points of his rival in the Live Race, putting him in position to make a charge for year-end No. 1 at the end of the season. Instead, Sinner needs to chase titles and hope that Alcaraz suffers early losses on the remainder of his schedule.

According to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, Alcaraz owns a 67-7 record this season and Sinner is 43-6. The former was year-end No. 1 in 2022 and the latter in 2024.

No other player has a chance to earn ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours.

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