Novak Djokovic battled through a left ankle injury and brutal heat to defeat Jaume Munar 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 and advance to the Shanghai Masters quarter-finals.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion, aiming for his fifth Shanghai title, called for the trainer multiple times for treatment on his ankle and appeared physically distressed, having also vomited during his previous match in temperatures over 30C and 80% humidity.
Djokovic fell to the court exhausted after losing the second set but rallied in the decider, breaking Munar twice to secure the victory in two hours and 41 minutes.
He will next face Ziziou Bergs. Following his own win, tenth seed Holger Rune called on the ATP Tour to adopt a heat rule, noting the “brutal” conditions.
