Djokovic Defeats Safiullin To Qualify For Shanghai Masters Quarter-Final

Novak Djokovic produced a dominant performance to defeat Russia’s Roman Safiullin 6-3 6-1 to book a quarter-final place at the ongoing Shanghai Masters.

The 37-year-old moved a step close to winning an historic 100th ATP title after winning his 99th title at the Olympics in Paris in August.

He will now face Jakub Mensik in the quarter-finals for a place in the last four of the tournament.

Djokovic is aiming to become only the third man – after Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) to win 100 or more century tournaments in the history of Tennis.

He admitted that the prospect of joining the historic club is an extra motivation for him.

He said, “Both last night’s match and tonight have been, maybe, some of the best matches I have played in a while, so I am just enjoying myself on the court.

“When you play well and feel good, there is a lot of joy in striking a tennis ball on the court.

“These sensations I have on the tennis court are some of the reasons why I keep on playing and keep on competing because I really believe that I can play at a very high level. Now, it’s a matter of keeping that consistency and also having a good time off the court.”

Djokovic also revealed his love for nature and also paid tribute to a fortune tree beside the court.

He said: “That fortune tree in the resort where we are staying is a tree that I have hugged and kind of put water on five years ago, so I repeated this little ceremony this year as well, kind of wishing good luck and just paying a tribute to an incredible life of that tree that is, you know, a thousand years plus old.

“We sometimes forget how the world around us is so powerful and so old, and it carries a lot of wisdom and intelligence and power and energy, and we sometimes lose ourselves in the modern fast-pace life.

“So, a tree like that, it just, you know, I guess, grounds me and puts me in place, and reminds me of, in a way, how small we are, you know, comparing to nature, and how respectful we must be.”

Djokovic also hailed his opponent in the quarter-finals, Jakub Mensik, admitting that he has been following his development.

He said, “We had a training week in Belgrade couple times, which, you know, he came over to play at the Serbia Open as well on clay.

“I followed his development, I try to be available to him to help him out with advices and guidance, to his parents as well, they’re lovely people.

“So, I’m very thrilled for him that he’s doing so well. I always believed that he’s got potential to be one of the top players of the world, and he’s building that kind of momentum right now.

“He’s tall, he’s got the big serve, he has got the all-around game, and he defends and moves very well for somebody of his height. And, actually, his physio here, Sascha, was working with me as well in my tennis center, so we got a lot of connections, so to say.”

Mensik defeated Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 to earn his fourth consecutive win against a Top 10 player, and to become the youngest quarter-finalist in Shanghai tournament history.