Novak Djokovic Vomits in a Nightmare Shanghai Match Win

So, what brought the titan of tennis to his knees? In his own words, the conditions were simply “brutal.” Shanghai decided to roll out the welcome mat with a stifling combination of 30°C (86°F) heat and a suffocating 80% humidity. It’s the kind of weather that makes just walking outside feel like a chore, let alone playing a high-stakes, nearly three-hour tennis match.

Djokovic didn’t mince words after the match, admitting he had to “weather the storm.” It wasn’t just the oppressive climate he was fighting; Yannick Hanfmann, ranked a distant No. 150, was playing out of his mind and giving him a serious run for his money. After dropping the first set, Djokovic had to dig into those legendary reserves of his. The fact that he managed to claw his way back to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 after emptying the contents of his stomach is just another absurd chapter in his incredible career.

It’s one thing to lose a match, but to push your body to the point of sickness and still come out on top? That’s pure, unadulterated Djokovic.

The Bigger Picture at the Shanghai Masters

The drama wasn’t confined to Djokovic’s court. On the very same day, defending champion and World No. 2, Jannik Sinner, had to retire from his match against Tallon Griekspoor. Sinner was hit with such severe cramps in the deciding set that he physically couldn’t continue.

When you have two of the world’s top players, both known for their insane physical conditioning, breaking down on the same day, you have to ask questions. Is it really a good idea to schedule major tournaments in such extreme conditions? It’s a spectacle, sure, but at what cost to the players’ health? It’s a conversation that has been bubbling up for years, and incidents like these just add more fuel to the fire.

Djokovic’s Path Forward

Despite the on-court exorcism, Djokovic advanced to face Jaume Munar in the next round, a player he has a comfortable record against. He credited his serve for getting him through the ordeal with Hanfmann, acknowledging that the rest of his game from the baseline needed a serious tune-up.

This entire episode is a stark reminder of the sheer physical toll this sport takes. We often get lost in the statistics—the 24 Grand Slams, the 40 Masters titles—and forget the blood, sweat, and, apparently, vomit that goes into achieving them. For Djokovic, this Shanghai match wasn’t just another win to add to his tally; it was a brutal, visceral fight against his own body and the elements. And somehow, he still won. Because, of course, he did.