Novak Djokovic defies heat and pain to reach Shanghai quarterfinals

Even when Novak Djokovic looks human, he somehow ends up winning like a machine.

In the sweltering Shanghai heat and with an ankle that seemed to protest every movement, the 24-time Grand Slam champion battled past Spain’s Jaume Munar 6–3, 5–7, 6–2 to reach the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters.

It wasn’t smooth, nor was it pretty. But it was unmistakably Djokovic — the stubborn survivor who refuses to yield.

On paper, this was just another third-round victory. In reality, it was a three-set grind that tested the Serb’s endurance and willpower as much as his tennis.

The temperature hovered above 30°C with suffocating humidity and conditions that had already seen Djokovic vomit mid-match in his previous win over Yannick Hanfmann. Tuesday brought no reprieve.

After breaking early to go 3–1 up, Djokovic grimaced in pain and called for the trainer to treat his left ankle. He managed to consolidate the break and close out the opener, but the limp was noticeable, the discomfort visible after almost every point. Munar sensed it too.

The Spaniard began to stretch rallies, pushing Djokovic into the corners, and his persistence paid off when he stole the second set 7–5 after a draining exchange that left Djokovic collapsed on the court.

The trainer was summoned again, this time checking his blood pressure. For a moment, it felt like the match might be slipping away — or worse, that Djokovic might not continue.

But champions have their own logic. Djokovic returned for the decider with the same defiance that has defined his career. He broke Munar immediately, the momentum shifting back to familiar territory.

A second break for 5–2 sealed it. Minutes later, after two hours and forty-one minutes of attrition, Djokovic raised his arms to a relieved crowd. Not in celebration, but in survival.

The four-time Shanghai champion is chasing his 41st Masters 1000 title, and his first since Paris in 2023.

This week also marks his first appearance since a disappointing semifinal exit at the US Open, and with top seed Carlos Alcaraz withdrawing and other heavyweights like Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev already out, Djokovic suddenly stands as the clear favourite once more.

Up next is Zizou Bergs, who fought from a set down to beat Canada’s Gabriel Diallo 3–6, 7–5, 7–6 (10–8).