Novak Djokovic broke another Roger Federer record that highlights his incredible longevity by reaching the semi-finals of the 2024 Shanghai Masters.
The legendary Serbian defeated talented 19-year-old Czech star Jakub Mensik 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-4 in the quarter-finals in Shanghai on Friday.
Djokovic, playing his first tournament in China since 2019, is aiming for a record fifth title at the Shanghai Masters, having previously triumphed at the event in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2018.
The 37-year-old has won 11 titles in total in China and is also a six-time champion at the China Open in Beijing, while winning his first ATP Finals crown in Shanghai in 2008. Djokovic also won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The 24-time major champion’s victory over Mensik moved him to a record ninth semi-final at the Shanghai Masters and the 78th ATP Masters 1000 semi-final overall.
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Djokovic has now reached the semi-finals of two Masters 1000 tournaments in 2024, having also reached the last four in Monte Carlo.
This is the 18th consecutive season that Djokovic has appeared in the semi-finals of at least two Masters 1000 events, which sees him surpass Federer to hold the record for multiple Masters semi-finals in the most different years.
Djokovic’s streak began in 2007, while Federer racked up his 17-year total with at least two Masters 1000 semifinals between 2002 and 2019.
Players will reach multiple ATP Masters 1000 semi-finals in most seasons
Novak Djokovic – 18 years (2007-2024)
Roger Federer – 17 years old (2002-2019)
Rafael Nadal – 15 years (2005-2019)
Rafael Nadal reached at least two Masters 1000 semifinals in 15 consecutive seasons from 2005 to 2019.
Federer and Djokovic are the two players with the longest gap between the first and last/most recent times they appeared in multiple Masters semifinals in a season, having each achieved the feat at 17 years apart.
After reaching his ninth semi-final in Shanghai in his 10th appearance at the event, Djokovic revealed that this run meant more to him because of his calendar approach at this stage of his career.
“It means more because I don’t have many opportunities,” Djokovic explained during his press conference.
“I mean, I have a selective schedule, so, and I haven’t played at my highest level throughout this year, except maybe a few occasions, Wimbledon, the Olympics, etc.
“So, you know, but China has always been a happy place, a place where I really played my best tennis throughout my career.
“So, you know, these kinds of matches, against teenagers, (laughing) it’s something that really motivates me, you know, keeps me going and pushes me to really dig in and show the world that I still have it. , you know, in my legs, I can still go the distance with the young people
guys.
“So I am very happy that I managed to win this very difficult match.”
Djokovic will face world number 7 Taylor Fritz in the semi-finals of the 2024 Shanghai Masters as he looks to set up a final showdown with world number 1 Jannik Sinner, who beat Tomas Machac in the last four.
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