Khaberni - Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic continued his journey at the Shanghai Masters 1000 tournament, qualifying for the semifinals of the competition currently held in China.
Djokovic, formerly the world's number one, defeated Belgian Zizo Bergs with scores of 6/3 and 7/5 on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the tournament, securing his spot in the competition's semifinals.
Despite continuing to struggle with a leg injury and fatigue from the heat in Shanghai, Djokovic maintained his composure, set to face Valentin Vacherot, a player from the principality of Monaco, in the next round.
Djokovic, who aims to win his fifth title at the tournament and enhance his record as the most decorated player in the competition, said after the match, "Honestly, I was just trying to stay alive on the court. This was my first encounter with Bergs. He's a great player. Clearly, he has tremendous offensive power."
The veteran star added in a statement carried by the official website of the Association of Tennis Professionals, "The conditions have been very tough these days for all players, and I was just trying to keep my composure on the court. I am happy to overcome this hurdle."
Djokovic, 38 years old, is only two wins away from enhancing his record by claiming his 41st title at Masters 1000 events, having been away from podiums at these competitions since the Rolex Paris tournament in 2023.
