Skip to main content Skip to footer 
Novak Djokovic moved one step closer to achieving a landmark 100th ATP title after another commanding display at the Shanghai Masters, defeating Russia’s Roman Safiullin 6-3, 6-1 to advance to the quarter-finals. The 37-year-old Serbian star, fresh off winning his 99th title with Olympic gold in August, now faces Czech teenager Jakub Mensik in his pursuit of the century mark.
Djokovic, who has already captured 24 Grand Slam titles, is aiming to become just the third male player in tennis history to reach 100 career ATP titles, joining legends Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103). Reflecting on his performance, Djokovic rated it “very close to 10” and described his last two matches as some of his best in recent times.
Returning to Shanghai for the first time since 2019, Djokovic acknowledged that the potential milestone is providing extra motivation at this ATP 1,000 event, where he holds the record for most victories and has won the title four times.
Despite the dominance shown in his matches so far, Djokovic faces a strong field, with top-10 players such as Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Alexander Zverev still in contention. However, Djokovic’s sharp form, marked by precise serving and powerful baseline play, has seen him breeze through his early-round matches without dropping a set.
After his quarter-final win, Djokovic expressed his joy in playing well: “I’m enjoying myself on the court… These matches and sensations are the reasons why I still play. I believe I can play at a high level and it’s about keeping that consistency.”
