Novak Djokovic advanced to the Shanghai Masters semifinals with a 7-6(9), 6-3 victory over Grigor Dimitrov on Saturday, while unheralded Frenchman Alexandre Muller‘s surprising run ended against Sebastian Korda.
Djokovic, seeking his record seventh ATP Finals title and aiming to solidify his year-end No. 1 ranking, overcame a tight first set and a steadfast Dimitrov to reach the final four. Simultaneously occurring,Muller,who upset Andrey Rublev and Borna Coric earlier in the tournament,fell to Korda 6-3,6-4. The results set up Djokovic against Korda and a semifinal clash between Jannik Sinner and carlos Alcaraz, continuing a compelling narrative at the season’s penultimate Masters 1000 event.
Djokovic saved a set point in the tiebreak before securing the first set against Dimitrov after a grueling 73 minutes. He then raised his level in the second,breaking Dimitrov’s serve twice to close out the match. “It was a very close first set, could have gone either way,” Djokovic said 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 to perseverance after battling a knee injury,captivated audiences but concluded against Korda,who demonstrated consistent form throughout the match. korda’s victory secures his first semifinal appearance at a Masters 1000 tournament.
The Shanghai Masters is a crucial event in the race to qualify for the ATP Finals in Turin, with points awarded based on performance. Djokovic’s win further strengthens his position at the top of the rankings, while Korda’s semifinal appearance significantly boosts his chances of securing a spot. Sinner and Alcaraz’s upcoming match is also pivotal, as both players are vying for ranking points and a potential place in the year-end championships.
Djokovic has won all seven of his previous Shanghai Masters titles (2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018). He is now 7-1 against Dimitrov in their head-to-head record. Korda will be looking to upset Djokovic and reach his first Masters 1000 final. the semifinals will be played on Sunday.