Shanghai Masters: Physically exhausted, Djokovic had to dig deep to overcome Munar
Novak Djokovic defeated Jaume Munar 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 on Tuesday. He’ll face Belgian Zizou Bergs in the next round
Novak Djokovic, Shanghai 2025 – © Tennis TV
Novak Djokovic had to dig deep into his reserves to survive on Tuesday in Shanghai. The Serbian, the No 4 seed, won against Spaniard Jaume Munar 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 to move into the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters at the Qi Zhong Tennis Center.
Already struggling physically in his previous match against Yannick Hanfmann, during which he was sick on court, Novak Djokovic collapsed to the ground after losing the second set, utterly exhausted following a punishing rally won by Spain’s Jaume Munar.
The Serb lay on his back for several seconds before sitting up, head bowed, as the doctor came to his aid. Back in his chair, his blood pressure was checked and he was given medication before resuming the match.
Djokovic is the oldest player to reach a Masters 1000 quarter-final
True to form, Djokovic went back into battle and managed to break the Spaniard’s serve at the start of the deciding set. He held onto that advantage until the end, even securing a double break to seal the victory. Djokovic has now reached the quarter-finals in all 11 of his Shanghai appearances, lifting the trophy a record four times.
Since the format’s introduction in 1990, Novak Djokovic (38 years, 133 days) has become the oldest player to reach an ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final, surpassing Roger Federer (38 years, 60 days), who achieved the feat in Shanghai in 2019.
Djokovic, ranked No 5, will face Belgian Zizou Bergs next.
Earlier in the tournament, the 38-year-old Serb beat German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann (4-6, 7-5, 6-3) and Croat Marin Cilic (7-6 (2), 6-4).
Munar, ranked No 41, defeated Japanese qualifier Yoshihito Nishioka (6-4, 5-7, 6-1), Italian Flavio Cobolli, the No 22 seed (7-5, 6-1) and Hungarian Marton Fucsovics (4-6, 7-5, 6-1) in the previous rounds of the Shanghai tournament.
Shanghai Masters 1000, other last 16 results (Qi Zhong Tennis Center, hard, USD 9.193.538, most recent results first):
- Learner Tien vs. Daniil Medvedev
- Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Lorenzo Musetti
- Nuno Borges vs. Alex De Minaur
- Arthur Rinderknech vs. Jiri Lehecka
- Valentin Vacherot vs. Tallon Griekspoor
- Holger Rune (10) beat Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (32): 6-4, 6-7 (7), 6-3
- Zizou Bergs beat Gabriel Diallo (31): 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (8)
