In an electrifying match at the ATP Shanghai Masters on Friday, 37-year-old tennis legend Novak Djokovic was pushed to the limit by 19-year-old Czech sensation Jakub Mensik. The Serbian superstar had to dig deep to secure a three-set victory, keeping his quest alive for a fifth title in Shanghai.
The opening set was a nail-biter, heading into a tiebreak. Djokovic raced ahead 3-0, but Mensik flipped the script, winning seven of the next eight points to snatch the set 7-6 (7-4). The young Czech's impressive start had the crowd roaring! 🙌
But you can't keep a champion down for long. Djokovic bounced back in the second set, unleashing powerful forehand winners and showcasing his signature resilience to dominate 6-1. Mensik, who had already upset big names like Andrey Rublev and Grigor Dimitrov in Shanghai, found himself up against the full force of the 24-time Grand Slam champion. 🎾🔥
The deciding set was a display of high-octane tennis. Leading 5-3, Djokovic sprinted to return a crafty drop shot and followed it up with a delicate overhead, leaving fans in awe. On match point, he sealed the deal with an ace, taking the set 6-4 and the match. Game, set, match—Djokovic! 🏆
Next up, Djokovic will face American seventh seed Taylor Fritz for a spot in the final, after Fritz defeated Belgian David Goffin 6-3, 6-4. Tennis fans, brace yourselves for more epic action! 💥
Reference(s):
Djokovic reaches Shanghai semis, reflects on Nadal retirement
cgtn.com
