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Djokovic Advances to Shanghai Masters Semi-Finals Despite Fitness Struggles
10 Oct
Summary
- Djokovic "concerned" about his physical state, but still defeats Bergs
- Qualifier Vacherot stuns World No. 11 Rune to set up semi-final clash with Djokovic
- Sabalenka and Swiatek reach Wuhan Open quarter-finals
As of October 10th, 2025, Novak Djokovic, the highest-ranking player left in the Shanghai Masters, has advanced to the semi-finals despite ongoing concerns about his physical state. The 38-year-old Serbian, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, dispatched Belgium's Zizou Bergs 6-3, 7-5, but admitted he has been "struggling quite a bit with energy levels" throughout the tournament.
In a surprising turn of events, the lowest-ranked player to make the quarter-finals, Valentin Vacherot, a 26-year-old qualifier from Monaco, battled back from a set down to stun World No. 11 Holger Rune 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-4. Vacherot, who was still on the alternate list when he arrived in Shanghai, will now face Djokovic in the semi-finals, a matchup he described as "unreal."
Elsewhere, World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka raced into her fourth consecutive Wuhan Open quarter-final, while six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek also advanced to the last eight with a hard-fought victory over Belinda Bencic. Sabalenka, who took a month off after winning the US Open, revealed she spent time practicing with Djokovic during her holiday in Greece, saying, "I hope I was a great hitting partner."
