Novak Djokovic is once again in the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters, having defeated Roman Safiullin with ease. Djokovic has always been a force to be reckoned with at this tournament, and he came back to Shanghai this year to remind everyone why.
Since the tournament’s first edition in 2009, Djokovic has consistently reached at least the semi-finals, except in 2019 when Stefanos Tsitsipas stopped him in the quarters. With four titles under his belt here, more than anyone else, he’s made an impressive return after five years away.
His journey started with a tough match against Alex Michelsen, where both sets went to tie-breaks. But as always, Djokovic found a way through. After that challenge, he breezed past Flavio Cobolli and then faced Safiullin. The Russian had just come off a grueling three-hour battle against Frances Tiafoe that ended late at night.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇷🇸 Novak Djokovic | 37 | 8,360 | 18 - 6 |
Header Text: Djokovic’s Path and Performance
Djokovic himself acknowledged that his opponents’ fatigue played into his hands during these matches. Yet fans might think it’s all part of being a great player—knowing how to capitalize on every situation.
Despite any advantages from tired opponents, Djokovic showed why he’s still one of the best at 37 years old by finishing off Safiullin in just over an hour. Early on, he missed a break point but soon saved two against him for a 3-2 lead before tying it up at 3-3.
That was as close as Safiullin got; Djokovic took control and won three straight games to claim the first set 6-3. Continuing his momentum into the second set with an immediate break gave him a quick 2-0 advantage.
Saving another break point led him on a streak of nine points won consecutively—securing yet another break and putting him firmly ahead. With such experience under his belt, closing out matches like these seems effortless for Djokovic who sealed it at 6-3, 6-2.
Next up for Novak is Jakub Mensik—a promising player who knocked out Grigor Dimitrov earlier in this event. Do you think Mensik can pose any challenge?
