Novak Djokovic hummed his way to a tense 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 win over 110th-ranked Mischa Zverev to reach the Shanghai Masters semi-finals
Serbian Novak Djokovic during the singles match against Germany’s Mischa Zverev at the Shanghai Masters yesterday. pic/AFP
Shanghai: Novak Djokovic hummed his way to a tense 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 win over 110th-ranked Mischa Zverev to reach the Shanghai Masters semi-finals.
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The defending champion revealed he hummed a tune to keep calm during a second-set tie-break that almost saw him dumped out in China.
Djokovic, the World No.1 one, has struggled with form and injuries since his third-round defeat to American Sam Querrey at Wimbledon, and was beaten in the US Open final by Stan Wawrinka.
The 29-year-old Serbian admitted he sung to himself on the baseline waiting to receive serve to ensure he did not slip into a fit of petulance.
“Instead of the occasional tantrum that I used to have. I hope that it’s behind me now, I would switch that vibration and transform it into a tune,” Djokovic said.
“It wasn’t any mantra, it was a famous song, actually. I was using it to just forget about my mistake, and it worked I hope.”
Djokovic will now face Roberto Bautista Agut in the semi-finals, while Andy Murray, who beat beat David Goffin 6-2, 6-2, will meet Gilles Simon. “It was the most entertaining match of the tournament for me,” said Djokovic.
“He was the better player for most of the first part of the match. He played well tactically. I wasn’t striking the ball very well from the beginning of the match to be honest. I was quite flat with my feet.
“After that I started coming to the net more, just being more constructive with the point. I played solid at the end of the second and third sets.”
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