Novak Djokovic, the reigning world No. 1, continued his impressive run at the Shanghai Masters, securing a comfortable 6-3, 6-2 victory over Roman Safiullin on Wednesday. This win marks Djokovic’s 10th appearance in the quarterfinals of the prestigious tournament, showcasing his consistent dominance in Shanghai.
The match, which lasted just 73 minutes, saw Djokovic display his trademark precision and power, effortlessly navigating through Safiullin’s challenges. He will now face Jakub Mensik in the quarterfinals, who himself pulled off a stunning upset against Bulgarian star Grigor Dimitrov, winning 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
Djokovic’s victory carries even greater significance as he edges closer to achieving a milestone that few have reached in the history of professional tennis – his 100th tour-level title. Should he win the Shanghai Masters, he would join an elite group consisting of Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer as the only players to achieve this remarkable feat in the Open Era.
Speaking after his win, Djokovic expressed his satisfaction with his recent performances, highlighting the joy he’s experiencing on the court: “Both last night’s match and tonight have been, maybe, some of the best matches I have played in a while, so I am just enjoying myself on the court,” he shared with the ATP Tour website. “When you play well and feel good, there is obviously a lot of joy in striking a tennis ball on the court.”
He further explained his motivation for continuing to compete at the highest level, attributing it to the feeling of playing well and his belief in his own ability to perform at a very high level. “These sensations I have on the tennis court are some of the reasons why I keep on playing and keep on competing because I really believe that I can play at a very high level. Now, it’s a matter of keeping that consistency and also having a good time off the court.”
With his eyes firmly set on the 100th title, Djokovic will be looking to continue his winning momentum in the quarterfinals and move one step closer to etching his name in the record books alongside the legends of the game.
