SHANGHAI — Novak Djokovic had a comparatively simple victory on the Shanghai Masters for a change as he beat unseeded Zizou Bergs 6-3, 7-5 Thursday to achieve the semifinals, the place he’ll face No. 204-ranked qualifier Valentin Vacherot from Monaco.
The 38-year-old Djokovic has struggled within the sizzling and humid circumstances in Shanghai, vomiting throughout earlier matches and needing medical consideration when he slumped to the bottom in exhaustion after being taken to a 3rd set by Jaume Munar within the earlier spherical.
The one main blip in opposition to Bergs was being damaged when he led 5-4 within the second set, earlier than lastly changing his third match level.
“I ought to have closed out the match at 5-4,” Djokovic mentioned. “Very difficult circumstances as of late for all of the gamers, and I used to be simply making an attempt to remain alive on the court docket. I’m glad to beat this hurdle.”
It was the primary assembly between Djokovic and Bergs.
“Man, I’ve acquired to cease idolizing you,” Bergs mentioned with a smile earlier than the 26-year-old Belgian hugged Djokovic on the web.
Vacherot shocked Tenth-seeded Holger Rune 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 to develop into the second-lowest-ranked semifinalist in Masters 1000 occasions up to now 35 years, based on the ATP.
“That is simply unbelievable,” Vacherot mentioned in an on-court interview. “I didn’t come as a qualifier, I got here as an alternate. I wasn’t even certain I used to be going to play qualifying.”
Vacherot clinched the win when Rune netted a return of serve, then fell to his knees on the baseline with each palms to his face in opposition to the court docket floor. Rune had struggled with mobility due to leg cramps within the third set.
