Novak Djokovic moved nearer to attaining his a hundredth ATP title with a robust efficiency on the Shanghai Masters. The 37-year-old Serb superior to the quarter-finals after defeating Russia’s Roman Safiullin 6-3, 6-1.
Djokovic, who claimed his 99th title with an Olympic gold in August, will now face Czech teenager Jakub Mensik within the subsequent spherical.
As a 24-time Grand Slam champion, Djokovic is aiming to hitch an elite group of gamers who’ve gained 100 or extra tournaments. Solely Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) have reached that milestone in males’s tennis.
When requested to price his efficiency in opposition to Safiullin, Djokovic stated: “Very near 10. These final two matches are a few of the greatest I’ve performed shortly.”
That is Djokovic’s first time again in Shanghai since 2019, and he admitted that the considered reaching this landmark title is giving him further motivation. Djokovic, who has gained the Shanghai Masters 4 instances, holds the report for many wins on the occasion.
Regardless of high gamers like Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Daniil Medvedev nonetheless within the event, Djokovic has been spectacular. After a shocking early exit from the US Open, he has bounced again, successful all his matches in Shanghai with out dropping a set.
“I’m having fun with myself on the court docket,” Djokovic added. “These matches remind me why I nonetheless play. I imagine I can maintain acting at this stage, and it’s about staying constant.”
In different matches, Belgian David Goffin upset second seed Alexander Zverev, successful 6-4, 7-5. Goffin, who has been working exhausting to regain his kind, reached his first huge quarter-final since Wimbledon 2022.
World primary Jannik Sinner superior by beating American Ben Shelton 6-4, 7-6 (7-1), whereas Russian Daniil Medvedev knocked out Greek tenth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6 (7-3), 6-3. Tsitsipas was pissed off after receiving a time violation through the match, which affected his focus as he went on to lose serve and the match.
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz additionally reached the quarter-finals, extending his successful streak to 12 matches by defeating French veteran Gael Monfils 6-4, 7-5.