Novak Djokovic secured his place in the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters by defeating 19-year-old Jakub Mensik in a thrilling three-set match on Friday. The world-renowned tennis player, seeking his fifth Shanghai title, faced some early challenges but managed to pull through with a 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-4 victory, marking his ninth appearance in the tournament’s semi-finals.
Djokovic initially struggled in the first set, losing a tiebreak to his unseeded opponent after a closely contested battle. Mensik, who was born just over a year after Djokovic’s debut on the ATP Tour, showcased his potential by keeping pace with the seasoned champion, using a strong serve to push Djokovic out of his comfort zone. However, the 24-time Grand Slam champion found his rhythm and fought back in the following sets.
In the second set, Djokovic displayed his experience and tactical brilliance. Capitalizing on Mensik’s unforced errors, he quickly took control of the match, breaking his opponent’s serve early and maintaining a lead that proved unassailable. His powerful and accurate forehands left Mensik struggling to keep up, and Djokovic leveled the match at one set apiece.
The final set saw Djokovic take command, starting with a remarkable 33-shot rally that set the tone for the remainder of the match. Although a minor knee issue caused some concern for the 37-year-old Serbian, he managed to secure a crucial break for a 3-2 lead, which ultimately sealed his path to victory. His relentless precision and power were too much for Mensik to handle, despite the Czech’s valiant efforts.
With this win, Djokovic moves one step closer to claiming his first ATP Masters 1000 title since his triumph in Paris last year. He is set to face American Taylor Fritz in the semi-finals, a player who earlier defeated Belgium’s David Goffin. The other semi-final will feature world number one Jannik Sinner against Czech Tomas Machac, making for an exciting finish to the tournament.
Djokovic’s determination to extend his record of Shanghai Masters victories is clear as he continues his campaign for a historic fifth title in the prestigious event.