At 38 years old, what is left for Novak Djokovic to prove? He has every record that matters, 24 Grand Slams, and a legitimate claim as the greatest to ever hold a racquet. And yet, here we are, deep into the 2025 season, watching him battle not just a talented opponent, but his own body and a brutal, suffocating heatwave in China. After his latest victory, a hard-fought 6-3, 7-5 win over Zizou Bergs, Djokovic didn't talk about legacy or records. He offered a far more primal, honest assessment of his performance.
He was, in his own words, "just trying to stay alive."
This wasn't just a tennis match; it was a grueling test of endurance. His win punches his ticket to an astonishing 80th Masters 1000 semi-final, but the story of the day wasn't the destination. It was the brutal journey it took to get there. For anyone watching the Novak Djokovic Shanghai Masters campaign this week, it's become clear his biggest opponent isn't across the net—it's in the air around him.
A Battle Against an Invisible Opponent
Let's talk about the conditions for a moment, because they are central to this story. Shanghai in October has been a cauldron. We're talking temperatures soaring to 35°C (95°F) with a staggering 80% humidity. It's the kind of thick, soupy air that steals your breath and drains your energy reserves before you've even finished your warm-up.
For the players, it's been described as trying to compete inside a sauna. We saw Djokovic vomit on court during his third-round match, a visceral and shocking display of the physical toll this environment is taking. This isn't just about being in shape; it's about survival. Every point is a battle, every changeover a desperate search for recovery. This context makes his ability to not just compete, but win, all the more remarkable.
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| Aryna Sabalenka has won 19 consecutive matches at the Wuhan Open |
Dissecting the Win Over a Fearless Bergs
Against this backdrop, Djokovic faced Belgium's Zizou Bergs, a player with nothing to lose and a whole lot of firepower. The first set was classic Djokovic. He was a defensive wall, absorbing Bergs' powerful shots and redirecting them with precision. He played with controlled aggression, cruising to a 6-3 set that seemed to signal a routine day at the office.
But in these conditions, nothing is routine.
The second set was a different story entirely. As the match wore on, Bergs grew in confidence, redlining his game and hunting for winners on every shot. Djokovic, meanwhile, started to show the strain. At 5-4, serving for the match, the unthinkable happened: Djokovic was broken. He admitted later he became "too passive," a rare concession from the sport's greatest frontrunner. For a moment, it felt like the heat and his opponent might just pull him under.
However, this is where champions are forged. Instead of panicking, Djokovic dug in. He weathered the storm as Bergs' high-risk strategy inevitably produced errors (23 unforced errors in total). The Serb broke back immediately and, given a second chance, made no mistake, closing out the match. It wasn't pretty, but it was a masterclass in resilience.
The Next Man Up: A Qualifier's Dream
Djokovic’s reward for surviving this ordeal? A semi-final clash with one of the tournament's biggest surprise packages: Valentin Vacherot. The 26-year-old from Monaco has been living a dream in Shanghai.
As a qualifier, he wasn't even supposed to be in the main draw, let alone the final four. His quarter-final victory was a stunner, as he took down 10th seed Holger Rune in a dramatic three-setter. Rune, who was struck down by cramps in the punishing conditions, simply couldn't keep up with Vacherot's relentless consistency. With the win, Vacherot will break into the world's top 100 for the first time. He's playing with house money, a dangerous underdog with nothing to lose—the exact type of player who can cause problems.
Meanwhile, in Wuhan…
While the men battled in Shanghai, the WTA's elite were putting on a show at the Wuhan Open, a tournament returning to its former glory after a hiatus.
Aryna Sabalenka, the world number one, looks simply unstoppable. She extended her incredible winning streak at this event to 19 matches with a dominant 6-3, 6-2 victory over Liudmila Samsonova. Sabalenka has won this tournament every time she's played it since 2018, and on this form, it's hard to bet against her making it four in a row.
Her biggest rival, world number two Iga Swiatek, also advanced, but had to work much harder. She was pushed to the limit by Belinda Bencic, eventually prevailing 7-6, 6-4 in a high-quality affair. The results set up some tantalizing quarter-final matchups and continue the fascinating race for the year-end number one ranking.
The Final Word: Can Djokovic Conquer Time Itself?
Back in Shanghai, a fifth title here for Djokovic feels both inevitable and improbable. His technical skill is as sharp as ever, but at 38, recovery is the biggest challenge. Every grueling match takes more out of the tank. His semi-final will be another immense test of his legendary physicality and willpower.
He may just be "trying to stay alive," but for Novak Djokovic, that has always been more than enough.
What do you think? Does Djokovic have enough left to win the title? Let us know in the comments!