Holger Rune and Novak Djokovic have each battled their way into the quarterfinals of the Rolex Shanghai Masters, maintaining their hopes for qualification to the ATP Tour Finals set to occur in Turin next month.
Rune expressed satisfaction with his performance, highlighting improvements in his mentality during matches. After a hard-fought victory over the French player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Rune reflected on the competitive nature of matches at this level. Despite a setback in the second set, which left him momentarily frustrated, he emphasized his determination to succeed in the third set, showcasing his resilience on the court.
Currently ranked 12th, Rune is chasing the eighth spot for the Tour Finals, trailing Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti by 945 points. He is determined to qualify and add another title to his name, aiming for his second Masters victory after previously triumphing in Paris in 2022.
In his match, Rune, seeded 10th, defeated Perricard with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-7(7), 6-3, after nearly two and a half hours of play. As Rune continues his journey in Shanghai, he is set to face the Monegasque qualifier Valentin Vacherot, who dispatched the Dutch 27th seed, Tallon Griekspoor, in his own fourth-round matchup.
On the other side of the draw, Djokovic, a veteran and four-time champion of this tournament, faced significant challenges in his pursuit of a quarterfinal berth. Seeded fourth, he battled through discomfort in his left ankle and oppressive humidity, ultimately defeating Spain’s Jaume Munar in a taxing match that ended with scores of 6-3, 5-7, 6-2. Djokovic’s struggle was evident as he required regular ice packs during breaks and even experienced moments of illness on the court. Nevertheless, he managed to regain his focus, dominating the deciding set with relative ease.
As a player with a record 40 Masters titles, Djokovic has now reached the quarterfinals in each of his eleven appearances in Shanghai, positioning himself as a strong favorite for the title this year. He will face Belgium’s Zizou Bergs next, who achieved a stunning win over Canada’s Gabriel Diallo in a match that went to a third-set tiebreak, concluding 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(8).
This will mark Bergs’ first appearance in the quarterfinals of a Masters event. He showcased impressive composure by saving two match points before securing his own victory on his third match point, illustrating the intense pressure typical of high-stakes matches at this level.
Bergs, poised to climb to a career-high ranking of 38, expressed his exhilaration at reaching this milestone. Reflecting on his journey, he noted the importance of remaining calm yet aggressive during critical moments. As the tournament progresses, anticipation builds around the remaining quarterfinal matches, scheduled for Wednesday, with fans eager to see which players will secure their spots in the final stages of this prestigious event.
