Holger Rune and Novak Djokovic have successfully reached the quarterfinals of the Rolex Shanghai Masters and will retain their respective campaigns to qualify for next month’s ATP Tour Finals in Turin.
The circumstances were slightly better to play in today. I am very happy with my mentality today. I stayed there every point and was a bit frustrated because I lost the second set Holger Rune
While Djokovic, seven-time ATP final champion, is currently in third place and will certainly qualify behind Carlos Alcaraz (1) and Jannik Sinner (2), Rune is outside the qualification line of 8, but quickly rises on the ladder. With his current series, he improved his position to the 12th after his defeat in the fourth Tour of Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Tuesday.
With 945 points, Rune is behind the eighth placed Lorenzo Musetti, a position that the Italian can defend well because he is also in the draw and could fit well with the 22-year-old Dane on Wednesday with the last eight.
The tenth-placed rune, who tries to reach the final in Turin for the second time, also came a step closer to winning his second Masters title after his victory in Paris 2022 after his 6-4 6-7 (7) 6-3 victory over the great Frenchman after two hours and 30 minutes.
“I was able to break it twice. He served very well today,” Rune admitted. “He also showed his level against Fritz; on this surface he is a difficult player to beat. The circumstances were a little better to play in today. I am very happy with my mentality today. I stayed every point and was a bit frustrated. I lost the second set, but I came back for the third set and managed to construct my nerves.”
Rune’s best result at this level in 2025 came to Indian Wells, where he lost in the final to the Brit Jack Draper. To continue his run in Shanghai this week, he will have to pass the Monegasque qualifying match Valentin Vacherot, who defeated the Dutch 27th series of Tallon Griekspoor with 4-6 7-61 6-4.
Novak Djokovic regularly needs ice cream during his competition in the fourth round
(Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
In the meantime, the four-time champion Djokovic from Shanghai, who was placed with four placements this year, reached the quarterfinals, but had to overcome pain in his left ankle, heavy moisture and a stubborn opponent, the Spaniard Jaume Munar, to tresure after two hours and 40 minutes with 6-3, 5-7, 6-2.
He only knows how the Serbian survived, because he had to have ice towels on his head regularly during the switches, had to surrender several times on the track and collapsed after he had lost the second set before he received medical help.
After everything, the 38-year-old recovered and came by the decision-maker for the loss of only two games, while the challenge of the Spaniard apparently evaporated.
Djokovic, with 40 Masters titles to his name, has reached the quarterfinals in all 11 of his performances in Shanghai, with which he won the trophy four times a record and is the highest placed in the draw now that the title favorite is.
The Serbian will compete against the Belgian Zizou Bergs, who ended the Canadian Gabriel Diallo season with 3-6 7-5 7-6 (8) in the first match of the day.
It will be Berg’s first performance in the last eight of a Masters event and he had to save two match points to secure his victory on his third match point after two hours and 49 minutes.
After the game, the Belgian was asked if it was easier to save the match points or to turn one yourself.
“Well, probably the loyalty points (match points) because it was on its storage,” said Bergs. “It is easier to play a match while serving then try to save the game while you return. But in the end it is very difficult. He doesn’t give me free points. I really had to look for all the match points. So in the end you have to stay calm, but at the same time aggressive. Fortunately, they succeeded.”
Zizou Bergs makes a jump of joy after his victory
(Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
Bergs is the fifth Belgian who reaches the quarterfinals of a masters and the second in Shanghai, together with David Goffin (2016, ’24) and is expected to rise to a Career-High 38 in the world when the new ranking is published on Monday.
“It means a lot and you probably saw it in my response,” said Bergs, who fell to the ground after reaching the last eight. “It’s pretty amazing and I feel that my process is a bit different, the speed of my path is different. I am 26 and I constantly reach my career height. I know it will not just be ups, and I have also had my downs this year, but I am very curious where my potential will bring me.”
The remaining two quarterfinals will be filled in on Wednesday.
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