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Novak Djokovic said Thursday he was “concerned” about his physical state, but still dispatched Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 6-3, 7-5 to set up a Shanghai Masters semi-final against tournament surprise package Valentin Vacherot.
The 38-year-old Serbian, the highest-ranking player left standing, is getting ever closer to a fifth title in the Chinese financial hub despite struggling throughout the week.
Next in the crosshairs of the 24-time Grand Slam champion is world number 204 Vacherot, a qualifier from Monaco who battled back from a set down to stun Holger Rune 2-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.
“I’m concerned too,” Djokovic said when told his fans were worried about his health, adding there were “issues that I’m trying to address day by day”.
“I don’t want to talk about the details. I’m still in the tournament. So I prefer just focusing on recovery and trying to give it all.”
Djokovic broke in the sixth game after an unforced error from the 44th-ranked Bergs.
But just days after he overcame exhaustion, vomiting, and an injury scare in his last match against Spain’s Jaume Munar, he looked tired and overheated.
“There’s always something happening with the body, pretty much every match that I play right now,” Djokovic said wryly.
He took a puff from an inhaler during a break in play as his team anxiously looked on, but took the first set.
Djokovic broke for a 5-4 lead in the second set, but Bergs broke back after a series of thrilling rallies that drew screams from the crowd.
The umpire had to ask the spectators for quiet multiple times as fans chanted furiously for Djokovic, waving Serbian flags and signs reading “Novak is the GOAT” (greatest of all time).
When Djokovic broke again for a 6-5 lead, the stadium erupted.
Bergs still would not lie down, saving two match points and creating another break point of his own, but Djokovic finally got over the line when the Belgian went long.
“I’ve been struggling quite a bit with energy levels, and just every opportunity that I get, the crowd feels it… I can hear that noise and that energy drives me,” Djokovic said.
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