'Just trying to stay alive': Novak Djokovic makes worrying statement after quarterfinal win in Shanghai Masters

Novak Djokovic battled through tough conditions to reach the semifinals of the 2025 Shanghai Masters, winning his quarterfinal clash against Zizou Bergs in straight sets 6-3, 7-5. The 38-year-old Serb admitted after the match that he was “just trying to stay alive” on court as his struggle with sweltering heat in China continued.

THE GREAT WALL OF NOVAK DJOKOVIC 🙅‍♂️@DjokerNole | @SH_RolexMasters | #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/FOVpc7wUK6

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Djokovic makes a worrying remark

Djokovic, who is chasing his first Masters 1000 title since 2023, said it was one of the toughest matches of the week because of the heat and humidity. The extreme weather conditions in Shanghai have been the main talking point for the past week, but Djokovic fought hard to secure yet another victory.

“I had to give pretty much everything, just trying to stay alive on the court. First encounter with Bergs, great guy and a lot of firepower in his game. I tried to make him miss the ball, that’s what happened. I was a little bit too passive. Challenging conditions for all the players. Just trying to stay alive and overcome this hurdle,” Djokovic said.

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In the opening set, Bergs showed remarkable resilience by saving five set points to frustrate Djokovic, before the Serbian finally closed it out with an unreturned serve. The second set proved even more gruelling, with both players serving well but treating the crowd to breathtaking rallies that left Djokovic hunched over his racquet on several occasions.

The highlight came during one extraordinary rally where Djokovic gave Bergs five golden opportunities to seal the point with overhead shots and volleys at the net, only to somehow emerge victorious and bring the crowd to its feet. Djokovic eventually sealed victory on his third match point.

This result means Djokovic will now appear in his 80th Masters semifinal, another remarkable milestone in his career. He will next face World No. 204 Valentin Vacherot, who pulled off a stunning 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 win against Holger Rune. Vacherot became the second-lowest-ranked player to reach an ATP Masters semifinal.

(With agency inputs)