Shanghai. Novak Djokovic stated that he “always wants to play”, despite the fact that “a part of (him) has left (with his rivals),” he declared this Friday after the announcement of Rafael Nadal’s retirement the day before.
“I always want to play […]”I’m still there… but it’s certain that a part of me left with them,” declared the 37-year-old player, who will remain the last representative on the courts of the golden age of tennis, which he also shared with Roger Federer. , who hung up his racket in 2022, and Andy Murray, retired this year.
The Serbian was “overwhelmed” by the announcement of Nadal’s retirement, whom he described as “the greatest rival” he ever had, statements made after qualifying for the semifinals of the Shanghai Masters 1000 by defeating Jakub Mensik, 19 years.
Nadal announced Thursday that he will retire from tennis after the Davis Cup finals in November, ending a career adorned with 22 Grand Slam titles.
The Mallorcan faced Djokovic 60 times, who dominated their rivalry 31 to 29.
“The era of the four musketeers, so to speak, the four of us and all the rivalries we had, was incredible,” he said.
Djokovic faces Fritz in the Shanghai semifinals
Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz will meet in the semifinals of the Shanghai Masters after their victories this Friday.
Djokovic, a four-time tournament champion, fought back from being down a set to beat Czech Jakub Mensik 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.
Mensik, ranked 65th, took the first set tiebreaker, but the winner of 24 Grand Slam titles recovered by dominating the second.
Mensik had 17 aces, but also committed six double faults and 32 unforced errors. This was the first meeting against Djokovic in his career.
“I stayed calm and started the second (set) very well, I felt like we both had a physical crisis at the beginning of the set. We push each other with long plays. A tough fight that lasted almost two and a half hours,” said the Serbian.
While Djokovic will play his 77th Masters semifinal, Fritz beat the Belgian David Goffin 6-3 and 6-4.
The 26-year-old American remained in control for the entire 82 minutes of the match and converted three of the seven break points he faced.
In the other semifinal that takes place on Saturday, number one Jannik Sinner will face Tomas Machac, who eliminated second-placed Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.
The second in the classification Aryna Sabalenka gave a class of mastery by beating the Polish Magdalena Frech 6-2, 6-2 and thus maintaining her record without losing at the Wuhan Open, to face the fourth in the ranking Coco Gauff .
The American crushed Magda Linette of Poland 6-0, 6-4 and earned her 50th victory of the season.
China’s Wang Xinyu, who is 51 in the world and who eliminated Jessica Pegula in the third round, came back to beat Ekaterina Alexandrova 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (6).
Wang will face compatriot and Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen, who beat sixth-ranked Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
#play #Djokovic #Nadals #goodbye
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