Novak Djokovic holds off Zizou Bergs to reach Shanghai semifinals

Novak Djokovic held off a late surge from Zizou Bergs to beat the Belgian, 6-3, 7-5 and reach the 2025 Rolex Shanghai Masters semifinals.

🖥️📲The Match in 15 Minutes: Novak Djokovic def. Zizou Bergs, Shanghai QF

The former world No. 1 is now two wins from his first ATP hard-court title since the 2023 Nitto ATP Finals, booking a final-four clash with Monegasque qualifier Valentin Vacherot after an hour and 50 minutes on Stadium Court.

"Well, it's no secret I love playing in China," Djokovic said after the match. "I just mentioned the support of the crowd definitely makes you feel comfortable, gives you wind in your sails. When you're on the court feeling down they lift you up. So that's what's happening basically every single match the last couple matches for me here.

"I've been struggling quite a bit with energy levels. And just every opportunity that I get, the crowd feels it, and they stand behind me. And then, you know, I can hear that noise and that really, that energy drives me. I'm enjoying myself. As much as I'm suffering, at the same time I'm enjoying to play in front of them."

With perhaps a little help from WTA world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, the fourth-seeded Djokovic has navigated an upset-heavy tournament and brutally humid conditions to find himself the highest-ranked man left in the men’s draw following exits from top seeds Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev.

The 38-year-old edged through back-to-back three-setters against Yannick Hanfmann and Jaume Munar to reach only his second Masters 1000 quarterfinal of the season, having largely sat out the Masters for the last several seasons.

Djokovic was inspired to expand his calendar following a US Open semifinal defeat to Carlos Alcaraz, betting on his mental strength to better hold up over the Masters’ best-of-three format. So far, that gamble has paid off in Shanghai, where he gained the mental ascendency over an inspired but erratic Bergs.

A 26-year-old from Lommel, Bergs has enjoyed a career-best season, reaching his first two ATP finals and earning a career-high ranking of No. 44 following a third-round finish at the US Open. He reached his first Masters quarterfinal with impressive upsets of No. 19 seed Francisco Cerundolo and No. 31 seed Gabriel Diallo, surviving the latter in a third-set tiebreaker.

Djokovic naturally proved a steeper challenge as the Serb eased through the opening set and appeared to have the match wrapped up when he scored a crucial break in the ninth game of the second.

Bergs pulled off a Houdiniesque comeback to level the set at five games apiece, but Djokovic battled right back, winning a lung-busting rally to earn a break point in the following game. Serving for the match a second time, Djokovic earned a pair of match points only for Bergs to save both and turn the tables once again with a break point opportunity.

Djokovic saved it with a strong serve and quickly earned a third match point, a final miss from Bergs sealing the deal for the 24-time Grand Slam champion in just under two hours.

Up next for Djokovic is the 204th-ranked Vacherot, one half of the ATP tour’s newly minted dynamic cousin duo alongside France’s Arthur Rinderknech. A former college player for Texas A&M University, Vacherot made his first Masters 1000 semifinal after rallying from a set down to defeat No. 10 seed Holger Rune, 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4.

"I've known him for last couple of years," Djokovic said. Obviously he's ranked before this tournament 200-plus. He's been around. He's playing for Monaco, which is a really great success, the biggest historical success for Monaco. It's amazing. So everyone is excited there. We know we have one of the nicest and biggest tournaments in our sport there in Monaco.

"He's been improving a lot. We always knew that he's got a great potential, with a big serve, a big game, he's a big guy. He kind of plays quite similar to Rinderknech, you know. And I see that they're quite close. The serve particularly reminds me of Arthur as well. So it's great to see that chemistry between them, that they're supporting each other. Arthur was there the whole match. Yeah, historic success for him and, yeah, I'm looking forward to play him. Hopefully I can get a win."