<img title="Serbian Novak Djokovic during the singles match against Germany&rsquo;s Mischa Zverev at the Shanghai Masters yesterday. Pic/AFP" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/oct/15novak-djokovic.jpg" alt="Serbian Novak Djokovic during the singles match against Germany&rsquo;s Mischa Zverev at the Shanghai Masters yesterday. Pic/AFP" /> Serbian Novak Djokovic during the singles match against Germany&rsquo;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.
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.
&ldquo;Instead of the occasional tantrum that I used to have. I hope that it&rsquo;s behind me now, I would switch that vibration and transform it into a tune,&rdquo; Djokovic said.
&ldquo;It wasn&rsquo;t any mantra, it was a famous song, actually. I was using it to just forget about my mistake, and it worked I hope.&rdquo;
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. &ldquo;It was the most entertaining match of the tournament for me,&rdquo; said Djokovic.
&ldquo;He was the better player for most of the first part of the match. He played well tactically. I wasn&rsquo;t striking the ball very well from the beginning of the match to be honest. I was quite flat with my feet.
&ldquo;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.&rdquo;

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

Novak Djokovic hums his way to a tense win over Mischa Zverev

Severus for Suresh Mahindra Trophy

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

Novak Djokovic hums his way to a tense win over Mischa Zverev

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Novak Djokovic hums his way to a tense win over Mischa Zverev

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