Djokovic Overcomes Heat, Exhaustion, Storm Into Shanghai Quarterfinal

World No.1, Novak Djokovic defied exhaustion and searing Shanghai heat to secure a hard-fought victory over Spain’s Jaume Munar, advancing to the quarterfinals of the 2025 Shanghai Masters on Tuesday.

The Serbian star battled leg pain and visible fatigue but prevailed 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 in a grueling match that lasted nearly two hours and forty minutes.

Djokovic required multiple medical timeouts and was seen vomiting courtside as the humid conditions pushed him to his physical limits.

Despite dropping the second set and briefly collapsing on court, the 24-time Grand Slam champion regained his composure, showing trademark resilience to dominate the final set. His relentless spirit and tactical precision saw him close out the match to the cheers of an electrified crowd.

“This was one of the toughest matches I’ve played in recent memory,” Djokovic said after the match. “The conditions were brutal, but I had to dig deep and find a way to win.”

The victory marks Djokovic’s 11th appearance in the Shanghai Masters quarterfinals. He will next face Belgium’s Zizou Bergs for a place in the semifinals.

With several top seeds, including Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, already out of the tournament, Djokovic now stands as the top contender for the title as he continues his quest for a record-extending Masters 1000 crown.