Novak Djokovic beat Zizou Bergs 6-3 7-5 in 1 hour and 50 minutes to reach his 80th Masters 1000 semifinal at the Shanghai Rolex Masters.
Djokovic saved four of the five break points he faced and converted three of his five break points. Bergs hit 25 winners to 40 unforced errors.
Djokovic will take on world number 204 Valentin Vacherot in the semifinal.
Djokovic earned the first break in the sixth game of the first set to take a 4-2 lead. The former world number 1 and four-time Shanghai Masters 1000 champion fended off three break points in the seventh game.
Djokovic wasted five set points on return at 5-2 before holding to 15 at 5-3 to close out the first set 6-3 after 50 minutes.
Both players held on their serve in the first eight games to draw level to 4-4. Djokovic earned a break in the ninth game to take a 5-4 lead. Bergs broke back in the 10th game with a high-quality return game to draw level to 5-5, as Djokovic was not able to serve out for the win. Djokovic earned a break in the 11th game and served out for the win at 6-5. The Serbian player wasted two match points and faced a break point, but he saved it and sealed the win on his third match point.
“I was just trying to stay alive to be honest on the court. 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”, said Djokovic.
