Novak Djokovic‘s recent match at the 2024 Shanghai Masters was a tough battle, but his main concerns lay elsewhere.
Arriving in Shanghai, Djokovic hadn’t played much since his unexpected third-round loss to Alexei Popyrin at the US Open. He did play in the Davis Cup, easily defeating Ioannis Xilas with scores of 6-0, 6-1, but that was it until now.
His first game in Shanghai wasn’t easy either. Djokovic had to fight hard against Alex Michelsen, needing a comeback and two tie-breaks to secure victory.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇷🇸 Novak Djokovic | 37 | 8,360 | 18 - 6 |
Djokovic’s Journey Through the Tournament:
After overcoming Michelsen, Djokovic showed his strength by winning convincingly against Flavio Cobolli and Roman Safiullin. But Jakub Mensik gave him a real challenge by taking the first set in a tie-break. Still, Djokovic’s skill led him to win 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-4, marking his ninth semi-final appearance here.
Fans might think he’s still got what it takes despite some hiccups along the way.
When asked about his performance so far, he acknowledged Michelsen pushed him but felt satisfied overall. “I mean,” he said thoughtfully, “it’s quite relative what the ideal is… I think I played really well this tournament.”
Staying healthy is crucial for him now more than ever as he aims for trophies. During his match with Mensik though, there was a scare when he clutched his left knee late in the third set—thankfully not the one operated on before.
Right after finishing that match , reporters were quick to ask about any injury concerns. He reassured them it seemed temporary: “Hopefully when it cools down I’m not going to have any troubles with it.”
With five matches under his belt at this event—the most since Paris Olympics—Djokovic hopes for continued health through its endgame stages: “Now is time…to step up even more,” aiming towards finals glory.
What do you think? Can he keep up this pace and stay fit till then?
