Novak Djokovic, the top seed at the Shanghai Rolex Masters, was a game away from being upset by German qualifier Mischa Zverev in the second set of their quarter-final match on Friday, but broke back to win the match in three sets. So how did the Serbian overcome the pressure and get himself out of trouble? “You're trying to reach that balance between being concentrated but at the same time being kind of calm and relaxed and enjoying the moment,” said Djokovic, who hummed a tune while waiting to return Zverev’s serve in the latter stages of the match. “I was always trying to keep that optimal state of mind. Instead of the occasional tantrum that I used to have,...
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic came on Friday within a tie-break of losing to a player ranked outside of the Top 100 in the Emirates ATP Rankings for the first time in more than eight years. The Serbian was forced to work hard for his 30th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 match win of the year by overcoming No. 110-ranked Mischa Zverev 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 in two hours and 21 minutes at the Shanghai Rolex Masters. "I had to dig myself out of a hole," said Djokovic. "He was the better player for most of the first part of the match. He was up a set and a break, [then] a game away from winning. Tactically played well. He slowed...
Follow all the latest off-court action on MyATP! Download the app for iPhone or Android or visit MyATP.com. Shanghai Rolex Masters – Shanghai, China Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal participated in a special activity ahead of the tournament, writing postcards and mailing them in the new mailbox at the tournament site. The duo also met with the tournament’s sponsors. Stan Wawrinka and Tomas Berdych participated in “Masters on the Huangpu River”, taking a cruise along The Bund and helping out with a traditional Chinese shadow puppetry demonstration. Taylor Fritz visited the Shanghai United Family Hospital and Clinic. The trip included a tour of the hospital and facilities available, with the NextGen star visiting some young children and handing out signed tennis balls. Fritz, Jamie Murray, Bruno Soares,...
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic remained on course for a fourth Shanghai Rolex Masters crown on Thursday as he defeated Vasek Pospisil 6-4, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals. The Serbian is back in action for the first time since losing the US Open final to Stan Wawrinka and is chasing his eighth tour-level crown of the season. He has a 26-3 record at this ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament and is bidding to add to the trophies he won in 2012-13 and 2015. Each victory this week sees Djokovic keep pace with Andy Murray in the battle to finish the year-end No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings. The Belgrade native started the week with a healthy 1,555-point lead...
