Novak Djokovic to face unlikely foe in Shanghai semifinals

Novak Djokovic defeated Belgium's Zizou Bergs 6-3, 7-5 at the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Thursday to become the oldest-ever ATP Masters 1000 semifinalist at 38.

The fourth-seeded Serbian star reached his record-extending 80th Masters 1000 final four and is seeking his record-extending fifth title in Shanghai.

His unlikely opponent is qualifier Valentin Vacherot of Monaco, who rallied for a 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 victory against No. 10 seed Holger Rune of Denmark in Thursday's other quarterfinal.

Djokovic enjoyed a more comfortable match against Bergs after struggling battling exhaustion and a leg injury in hot and humid conditions in his fourth-round win against Spain's Jaume Munar.

Djokovic, who improved to 27-0 this season when winning the first set, saved four of five break points and committed only eight unforced errors to win in one hour and 51 minutes.

"I was just trying to stay alive to be honest on the court," Djokovic said. "My first encounter with Bergs. He's a great guy. Obviously, a lot of firepower in his game. At times I just tried to play an extra ball in the court and make him miss the ball, and that's what happened. I should have closed out the match at 5-4. He played a good game, again I was a little bit too passive.

"Very challenging conditions these days for all the players, and I was just trying to stay alive on the court. I'm glad to overcome this hurdle."

Djokovic is two wins away from his record-extending 41st Masters 1000 crown, and first since the Rolex Paris Masters in 2023.

At No. 204, Vacherot became the second lowest-ranked semifinalist in Masters 1000 history (since 1990). Only Chris Woodruff at No. 550 was ranked lower when he made a stunning run at Indian Wells in 1999.

With his upset of Rune in two hours and 59 minutes, Vacherot is guaranteed to crack the Top 100 for the first time.

"I didn't come as a qualifier, I came as an alternate. I wasn't even sure I was going to play qualifying," Vacherot said. "This is just unbelievable. The last win meant already so much to me. This one means even more.

"It was tough not to think about it on match point, also breaking the Top 100. I know this is just a step, but I tried not to look at the rankings for this whole tournament. I had read that if I won, I would break the Top 100, but this is just unbelievable for me. I cannot wait for (the semifinal). I'm just so happy and living the dream."

Vacherot, 26, withstood 12 aces and 49 winners from Rune and saved seven of 10 break points to move closer to his first career singles title.