World number one Novak Djokovic faced an unexpected battle in his Shanghai Masters return, surviving a major scare against Belgian qualifier Zizou Bergs before eventually prevailing in a hard-fought three-set encounter.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion, playing his first match since winning the US Open, found himself pushed to the limit by the world No. 132 in challenging humid conditions at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena.
Early Struggles for the Top Seed
Djokovic appeared uncharacteristically vulnerable from the outset, dropping his serve early in the first set as Bergs displayed fearless tennis. The Belgian underdog, who came through qualifying, stunned the crowd by taking the opening set 6-4 against the tournament favourite.
'The conditions were really tough,' Djokovic admitted after the match. 'Very humid, heavy conditions where you just have to try to find a way to win.'
Experience Prevails in Tense Decider
Showing his champion's mentality, Djokovic regrouped to dominate the second set 6-1, but the decider proved anything but straightforward. Both players exchanged breaks of serve in a tense battle that saw the Serbian star ultimately clinch victory with a 6-4 final set score.
The match lasted two hours and 31 minutes, far longer than most had anticipated for Djokovic's opening round against a qualifier.
What's Next for Djokovic?
Djokovic will now face either Croatia's Borna Gojo or Russia's Pavel Kotov in the next round as he continues his quest for a fifth Shanghai Masters title. The victory extends his impressive winning streak in China to 11 matches dating back to 2018.
The narrow escape serves as a reminder that even the greatest champions can be tested on any given day, particularly when returning to competition after a break. Djokovic's ability to dig deep and find solutions under pressure ultimately proved the difference against a determined opponent playing the match of his life.
