Novak Djokovic claimed he was “just trying to stay alive” as he defeated Zizou Bergs 6-3, 7-5 to reach the Shanghai Masters semi-finals, battling not only his opponent but also the gruelling 35C heat and high humidity.
The victory extended the 38-year-old Serb’s record as the oldest player to reach a Masters 1000 semi-final (his 80th overall).
Djokovic, who admitted being too passive when serving for the match at 5-4, ultimately prevailed thanks to his steadiness against Bergs’ 23 unforced errors.
He will now face qualifier Valentin Vacherot, who stunned 10th seed Holger Rune 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, securing a top-100 ranking debut.
