Novak Djokovic admitted he was "concerned" about his physical state, but that didn't stop him from overcoming Belgium's Zizou Bergs 6-3, 7-5 to reach the Shanghai Masters semi-finals.
The 38-year-old Serbian, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, is chasing a fifth title in the Chinese city and remains the tournament's highest-ranked player despite struggling with fitness all week.
His next challenge is qualifier Valentin Vacherot, ranked 204th, who stunned world No. 11 Holger Rune 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-4. Vacherot, whose cousin Arthur Rinderknech watched from the stands, called his run "unreal" and praised his fitness.
"I'm concerned too," Djokovic said when told fans were worried about his health, adding he's addressing issues day by day. In contrast, Vacherot said, "My body feels amazing" as he prepares for the biggest match of his career.
This showdown pits Djokovic's experience against Vacherot's momentum in what promises to be an electrifying battle. Fans worldwide are tuning in to see if the favorite can power through or if the underdog will cause another upset.
Reference(s):
'Concerned' Djokovic to meet 204th-ranked Vacherot in Shanghai semis
cgtn.com
