Shanghai Masters: "I Can Still Go The Distance" Says Novak Djokovic After Edging Mensik To Reach Semi-final

 

Novak Djokovic edged through an early scare from Jakub Mensik in three-set 6-7(4-7) 6-1 6-4 victory and secured his place in the semi-finals of the ATP Shanghai Masters 1000 on his first appearance since 2019. Meanwhile, other top contenders like Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev have been shown the way out after losing their matches in the quarterfinals. 

The semi-finals doesn't seemed as one that the Serbian can get past easily as he is set to face Taylor Fritz, who defeated David Goffin. Coming through the semis would a;so set the former champion potentially against Jannik Sinner in the final, and that is, if the Italian and world number one made it past Tomas Machac in the semi-final. 

"I was fortunate to find great serves in the last game, a couple of aces, that helps," Djokovic recalled afterwards. "I didn't serve that well at the end of the first set when I was serving for it."

Jakub, 19, was able to maintain his rally after the four-time champion had taken a break at 4/4 of the opener and broke back to force the set to the distance. Claiming the set gave the Czech lead advantage but that did not keep him through the remaining sets. 

Djokovic took a breeze through the second set, claiming two breaks and held off a rally from the Czech in the decider, breaking for the fourth time to take a 4/2 lead and completed the matchpoint with an ace on his serve. 

The world no. 4 afterwards admitted to struggling with a knee injury for which he had a surgery in June. However, he confessed he summoned courage to show he can still "go the distance" regardless. Reaching the semi-finals made Djokovic the third oldest player after retired legend, Roger Federer to reach an ATP Masters 1000 semi-final. 

"These kinds of matches, against teenagers, are really what motivates me, keeps me going," Djokovic said. "To show to the world that I still have it in my legs, that I can still go the distance with these young boys." 

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