Novak Djokovic survives #NextGenATP Jakub Mensik in Shanghai, stays on track for 100th title | ATP Tour

Match Report

Djokovic survives #NextGenATP Mensik in Shanghai, stays on track for 100th title

Serbian seeks record-extending fifth title at Chinese ATP Masters 1000

October 11, 2024

Novak Djokovic survived a quarter-final scare Friday at the Rolex Shanghai Masters to stay alive in his quest for a 100th tour-level title.

The record four-time champion rallied from a set down to neutralise the threat of #NextGenATP star Jakub Mensik, earning a 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-4 win to advance to the last four in Shanghai for a ninth time. After a sluggish start, Djokovic clicked into gear in a near-flawless second set during which he won 92 per cent (11/12) of points behind his first serve, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

“We went toe-to-toe until the last moment,” said Djokovic. “I was fortunate to find great serves in the last game, a couple of aces, that helps. I didn’t serve that well at the end of the first set when I was serving for it. He managed to turn things around by playing a good tie-break.

“I stayed collected and started off very well in the second [set], I felt that we both had a physical crisis at the beginning of the set. We pushed each other a lot, a lot of long rallies. [It was] a tough battle, almost two and a half hours.”

NOVAK. DJOKOVIC.@DjokerNole comes from a set down to defeat Jakub Mensik and reach his 7️⃣8️⃣th ATP Masters 1000 semi-final 🤯@SH_RolexMasters | #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/rRZRgeZkmH

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 11, 2024

Bidding to become the third oldest ATP Masters 1000 semi-finalist in series history (since 1990), the 37-year-old took a stranglehold on the third set, surging to victory in two hours and 19 minutes. Djokovic will next face seventh seed Taylor Fritz, who earlier claimed a dominant 6-3, 6-4 win against David Goffin.