Slow to warm up but awakened, Djokovic fought hard to advance and said after the match that he felt at home, thanking fans in Chinese.

Just moments ago, in the third round of the Shanghai Masters, Serbian tennis star Djokovic once again showed his fighting spirit. After battling for 2 hours and 42 minutes, he overturned qualifier Hanfmann 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 to advance to the last 16.

This win not only maintained his perfect 2-0 head-to-head record against Hanfmann but also guaranteed that in all 11 times he has played this tournament, he has won at least two matches each time!

Before the match, most believed Djokovic’s progression was almost certain. Although Hanfmann had emerged from qualifying and caused an upset by eliminating the 25th seed Tiafoe, he was outmatched by the 24-time Grand Slam champion in both ranking and experience. However, some commentators warned that Shanghai’s humid and hot “Indian summer” weather might be a factor — several players had previously complained about the court conditions, and Djokovic himself mentioned the heat’s challenge after his last match.

Looking at their previous encounter, the two first met last year in Geneva, where Djokovic won comfortably in straight sets. Technically, Hanfmann relies on powerful serves and baseline attacks, while Djokovic had to overcome the slow court and heavier balls due to humidity by engaging in long rallies and varying pace to wear down his opponent.

In the opening set, Djokovic’s touch was clearly cold. In the third game, Hanfmann forced three break points in a row and converted one with a precise backhand down-the-line winner to take the lead. Hanfmann played the key points in the first set exceptionally well. Several backhand winners were outstanding, and he took the set 6-4. In this set, Hanfmann led in winners 17-10 and had three fewer unforced errors at 9-6. Fans in the live chat joked, “In this weather, Djokovic can barely hold his racket!”

In the second set, both players were locked in a tight battle. Djokovic increased the spin on his shots to cope with the slow court. In the eleventh game, fueled by cheers from the “home” crowd, he achieved a crucial break in the twelfth game when Hanfmann had to serve to stay in the set, leveling the match at 7-5. The break point moment set the center court ablaze, with viewers commenting, “The King of Tennis has finally woken up! That break point was like a championship point!”

In the decisive set, Djokovic completely took control. In the fourth game, he broke Hanfmann’s serve with a sharp forehand cross-court winner, building a 3-1 lead. He then held his serves steadily, leaving no chance for a comeback. In the ninth game, the match point, Hanfmann’s volley at the net went wide, handing Djokovic the victory with an ace on the outside. Fans in the live stream exclaimed, “A comeback king! His mental strength is unbeatable!”

Following this match, Djokovic will face Spanish player Munar in the fourth round, who defeated Italian rising star Cobolli in three sets. If Djokovic advances further, a semifinal showdown with his tough rival Sinner is possible — Djokovic had openly expressed before the tournament his eagerness to face Sinner again.

After the match, Djokovic deliberately spoke to the audience in Chinese: “I love you all, I love you, China, thank you!” He also reenacted the “writing Chinese characters” segment — this time he confidently wrote the character “德” (De), contrasting sharply with the awkward scribble a few days ago when he forgot the stroke order. He emotionally said, “China might be the country that supports me the most outside my homeland... Playing here feels like home, I feel the support as if it were my home crowd, thank you all! I love you!”

On social media, fans felt both sympathy and excitement. Some joked, “Now that the ‘De’ character is mastered, next up should be ‘Kovic’!” Others reflected, “From wiping sawdust to prevent sweaty hands to making a comeback, this is the self-discipline of a top player.” Looking ahead, most fans hope Djokovic maintains his form: “Beat Munar, then face Sinner — this year’s Shanghai Masters story has to be thrilling!”(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)