By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, October 9, 2025
Photo Credit: Lintao Zhang/Getty
In the face of advancing age, pressing conditions and a knock on his last match, warrior to the end Novak Djokovic It remains alive and flowering in Shanghai.
38-year-old Serbian superstar stopped a challenge inspired by Zizou bergs 6-3, 7-5 to progress to his 80th 80th Masters in Rolex Shanghai.
A sweaty djokovic was broken twice in a row, then converted his third point of match to reach his 10th semifinal in Shanghai.
Occurs all physical challenges, Gjokovic vomit twice in court in the tournament and fell in court after the second group of his fourth round victory over Jaume Munar.
Today, Gjokovic displayed harshness and tactical acumen of dangerous bergs, who told Grand Slam “I idolize you as they met for a warm handshake on the net.
Perfect 10 🤩
Great respect shown among these competitors as his @Djokernole which prevails 6-3 7-5 over the bergs to reach his ten-ten Shanghai semifinal#Rolexhanghaimasters Pic.twitter.com/3vluh1zvzzz
– Tenis TV (@tennistv) 9 October 2025
“(Has taken) everything,” Gjokovic said for his battle in Final Four. “Just trying to stay alive, be honest, in court.
“The first meeting with Bergs – Guy Guy Guy – obviously a lot of fire power in his game. Sometimes, I just tried to play an extra ball in trial, you know, make him lose the ball. That’s what happened.
“I should have closed the match at 5-4, he played a good game. I was more or less passive. Only very challenging conditions for all players. I was just trying to stay alive in court. Happy to overcome this obstacle.”
Continuing his attempt for a 101st career title, Gjokovic will face Story Cinderella in World No 204 Valentin Vacherot for a place in the final.
Qualifier Vacherot made history as the player representing Monaco to reach a Master’s 1000 Master’s semifinal marking the biggest victory of his life with a 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 and 11 Holger Rune noble victory with a massive concern that will send it to the top 100.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ssxejlvwa0
“Excellent for Monaco tennis. We have one of the biggest tournaments on our Monaco tour,” Gjokovic said. “I am really happy for him and for Benjamin, his coach, I have known for many years. Trained with him while he was located in Monaco over the past 15 years.
“The amazing story of him, this tournament, he has brought out the world’s leading players. Really really impressive what he is doing. We will both have a day of rest and hopefully good semifinals.”
King Grand Slam drew a wrong background and lost smash by winning his first break and a 4-2 lead after 26 minutes.
Bergs made a serious push to regain the holiday in the seventh match.
Working and leaning to tighten his left foot after long points, Djokovic denied three resting points. During a stretch, strict Serbs created a jogging lobe that helped him escape from a resting point.
Gjokovic showed GRIT by sailing a nearly 10-minute hold to support the rest for 5-2.
The triple point, Bergs hit three axes in a row saving all three specified points. Bergs deleted two more points set in strong legs for 3-5 and forcing his opponent to serve it.
Respondent, Gjokovic won a 16-shot shocked rally for a certain six point. Slipping the wide service, Gjokovic grabbed a lead with a set after 48 minutes.
World no. 5 won nine of the 10 points played in Berg’s second service and constantly did damage to the preface exchanges that prevail in a physical opening group.
Standing his land throughout the second set, Bergs blocked his first set of set that captured a love for 4-3.
The champion four times made his move to the ninth match. A double mistake by Bergs gave Djokovic two resting points. He only needed one to carve the essential rest. Gjokovic rotated a back pass, Belgian could not deal with the 5-4 break.
The 26-year-old Belgian, who rescued two points of match by overthrowing Gabriel Diallo in the fourth round, was not yet.
A cunning bergs drew Gjokovic with the point of the point, tired a lobe and ended with a high flying volleyball for a double rest. The point in a short service Bergs exploded a backward return winner for his first break at the 5th level all.
Gjokovic Credit for tightening protective screws and winning the resting point in the next match.
An extremely ambitious bergs sailed a wide diagonal ancestor while Gjokovic gained a second straight break and 6-5 superiority.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k4h8ynwvgy
Gjokovic rescued a resting point, then hit up and heavy in the middle to turn his third point of match closing a tight test in an hour, 50 minutes to return to the last four.
