Novak Djokovic is through to the fourth round of the Shanghai Masters after completing the comeback against Yannick Hanfmann.
The Serb conceded the first set, but quickly responded to emerge victorious 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 and set up a clash with Jaume Munar.
Djokovic has now reached the round of 16 at an ATP Masters 1000 event for the 112th time, equalling Rafael Nadal‘s record for the most of any player since the format’s introduction in 1990.
After his triumph, the 24-time Grand Slam champion revealed how he was able to find his way back into the contest against a tricky opponent.
Novak Djokovic reacts to his comeback victory in Shanghai
In his on-court interview, Djokovic said the conditions at the Shanghai Masters were ‘brutal’.
“I’ve been saying it before, it’s the same for every player. It’s brutal when you have over 80 per cent of humidity day after day.
“For the guys, particularly, when they’re playing during the day with heat, with sun, you know, it’s even more brutal.
“So, it is what it is; you just have to deal with it, for me, biologically, it’s a bit more challenging to deal with it.
“But look, you know, I had to really weather the storm today. Yannick played an incredible match from the beginning you know.
“One mediocre game for my side in the first set at 1-1 was enough for him to break the serve and win the set.
- Aces: Djokovic – 7, Hanfmann – 13
- Double faults: Djokovic – 1, Hanfmann – 0
“It was so hard to read his serve. He was serving so accurately with a high percentage and just smacking every ball he had on his racket. It is tough to play someone like that. The crowd really got me up.
“Towards the end of the second set, I started to feel that I could stay in the rally, read his serve, and make him play an extra shot. He was starting to make some errors, and I was starting to swing a bit more freely through the ball.
“All in all, a great fight, a battle, something that I’m quite familiar with throughout my career. I have plenty of matches where I haven’t been the better player for most of the match, but just hang in there with a lot of guts.”
Novak Djokovic praises the Shanghai crowd after his win
Djokovic is a fan favourite in Shanghai, and it was the crowd who spurred on the 38-year-old’s comeback.
He said of the support: “It’s incredible to be here playing in front of a very passionate crowd now. First couple of matches, it’s been a packed stadium.
“It is one of the nicest and biggest stadiums we have in sports. It’s stunning. Honestly, I can’t ask for more.
“I’m grinding for almost three hours in the third round of a Masters at 38 with a full stadium cheering my name. It’s a dream come true for me, honestly. I’m very thankful.”
He has only played his next opponent, Munar, once before, having defeated him at Roland Garros in 2018.
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