By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, October 9, 2025
Photo credit: Lintao Zhang/Getty
Facing advancing age, stifling conditions and a knock down in his last match, fighter to the finish Novak Djokovic remains alive and thriving in Shanghai.
The 38-year-old Serbian superstar staved off a spirited challenge from Zizou Bergs 6-3, 7-5 to advance to his record-extending 80th Masters 1000 semifinal at the Rolex Shanghai Masters.
A sweat-soaked Djokovic broke twice in a row then converted his third match point to reach his 10th Shanghai semifinal.
Mastering all physical challenges, Djokovic vomited twice on court earlier in the tournament and collapsed on court after the second set of his fourth-round win over Jaume Munar.
Today, Djokovic displayed toughness and tactical acumen warding of the dangerous Bergs, who told the Grand Slam “I’m idolizing you” as they met for a warm handshake at net.
The perfect 10 🤩
Huge respect shown between these competitors as its @DjokerNole who prevails 6-3 7-5 over Bergs to reach his tenth Shanghai Semi-Final 🙌#RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/3vLuH1Zvzz
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 9, 2025
“[It has taken] pretty much everything,” Djokovic said of his battle into the final four. “Just trying to stay alive, to be honest, on the court.
“First encounter with Bergs—great guy—obviously a lot of firepower in his game. At times, I just tried to play an extra ball in the court, you know, make him miss the ball. That’s what happened.
“I should have closed out the match at 5-4, he played a good game. I was a little bit too passive. Just very challenging conditions for all the players. I was just trying to stay alive on the court. Glad to overcome this hurdle.”
Continuing his quest for a 101st career title, Djokovic will face Cinderella story in world No. 204 Valentin Vacherot for a spot in the final.
Qualifier Vacherot made history as the player representing Monaco to reach a Masters 1000 semifinal scoring the biggest win of his life with a 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 win over and No. 11 Holger Rune with a massive upset that will send him into the Top 100.
“Great for Monaco tennis. We have one of the biggest tournaments in our tour in Monaco,” Djokovic said. “I’m really glad for him and for Benjamin, his coach, I’ve known for many years. Trained with him while being based in Monaco over the last 15 years.
“Amazing story for him, this tournament, he has taken out top players of the world. It’s really impressive what he’s doing. We’re both going to have a day off and hopefully good semifinals.”
The Grand Slam king drew an errant backhand and missed smash earning the first break and a 4-2 lead after 26 minutes.
Bergs made a serious push to regain the break in the seventh game.
Laboring and bending over to clutch his left foot after lengthy points, Djokovic denied three break points. During one stretch, the streaking Serbian conjured a running lob that helped him escape a break point.
Djokovic showed grit navigating a near 10-minute hold to back up the break for 5-2.
Down triple set point, Bergs banged three aces in a row saving all three set points. Bergs erased two more set points standing firm for 3-5 and forcing his opponent to serve it out.
Undeterred, Djokovic won a crackling 16-shot rally for a sixth set point. Sliding the wide serve, Djokovic snatched a one-set lead after 48 minutes.
The world No. 5 won nine of 10 points played on Berg’s second serve and repeatedly did damage in forehand exchanges prevailing in a physical opening set.
Standing his ground throughout the second set, Bergs hammered his first ace of the set capping a love hold for 4-3.
The four-time champion made his move in the ninth game. A Bergs double fault gave Djokovic two break points. He needed only one to carve out the crucial break. Djokovic spun a backhand pass the Belgian could not handle breaking for 5-4.
The 26-year-old Belgian, who saved two match points toppling Gabriel Diallo in the fourth round, was not done yet.
A crafty Bergs drew Djokovic in with the dropper, looped a lob and finished with a flying high backhand volley for double break point. Pouncing on a short serve Bergs blasted a backhand return winner for his first break to level at 5-all.
Credit Djokovic for tightening the defensive screws and earning break point in the very next game.
An over-ambitious Bergs sailed a diagonal forehand wide as Djokovic gained a second straight break and 6-5 lead.
Djokovic saved a break point then hit high and heavy down the middle to convert his third match point closing a tight test in one hour, 50 minutes to return to the final four.
