Novak โฃDjokovic advanced to the Shanghai โคMasters semifinals with a 7-6(9),โ 6-3 victory over Grigor Dimitrov on โSaturday, while โunheralded Frenchman Alexandre Muller‘s surprising run ended againstโข Sebastian Korda.
Djokovic, seeking his โคrecord โคseventh โATP Finalsโ title and aiming to solidify hisโค year-end No. 1 โranking, overcameโ a tight first set andโค a steadfast Dimitrov to reach โฃthe final four. Simultaneously occurring,Muller,who upset Andrey Rublev โขand Borna Coric earlier โฃin the tournament,fell to Kordaโ 6-3,6-4. The results set up Djokovic against Korda and a semifinal clash between Jannikโฃ Sinner and carlos Alcaraz, โขcontinuing a compelling narrative at the season’s penultimate Masters 1000 event.
Djokovic saved a โsetโ point in the tiebreak before securing the first set against Dimitrov โคafter a grueling 73 minutes. He thenโ raised his โlevel in the โsecond,breaking โฃDimitrov’s serve twice to close out the match. “It was โฃa โฃvery close firstโค set, couldโฃ have gone either way,”โ Djokovic saidโข after the match. “Grigor was playing great, especially in the tiebreak. I managed to stay composed and win those crucial points.”
Muller’s journey,a testament toโ perseverance after โฃbattling a knee injury,captivated audiences but concludedโข against Korda,who demonstrated consistent formโ throughout theโ match. korda’s victory secures his โfirst semifinal appearance at a Masters 1000 tournament.
The โShanghai Masters is a crucial event โin the raceโข to qualify for the ATP Finals in Turin, with points โคawarded based on performance. Djokovic’s win further โstrengthensโ his position at the โtop of the rankings, while Korda’s semifinal appearance significantly boostsโข his โchances of securing a spot. โขSinner and Alcaraz’s upcoming match โคis also pivotal, as both players are vying for ranking pointsโ and a potential place in the year-end championships.
Djokovic has won all seven of his previous โShanghai Masters titles (2008,โ 2009, 2010, โฃ2012, 2013, 2015, 2018). He is now 7-1 against Dimitrov in their head-to-head record.โฃ Korda will be looking โto upset โDjokovic and reach his firstโ Masters 1000โฃ final. the semifinals willโฃ be played on Sunday.
