Federer, Djokovic nearing blockbuster clash in Shanghai final

WATCH—Federer pre-tournament presser in Shanghai:

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic won their quarterfinals in straight sets at the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Friday and are now a win away from a blockbuster clash in the final at the Masters 1000 event.

The No. 2-seeded Djokovic was the first of the two to advance, fighting off a set point serving at 5-6 in the first set to beat No. 7-seeded Kevin Anderson in straight sets, 7-6(1), 6-3. It was his seventh win in a row over Anderson and he’s now won 16 matches in a row on the tour—and 29 of his last 31.

“I managed to get that crucial break in the second set and played a perfect tiebreaker,” Djokovic said after the match. “It was a very close match, all in all, and I was very pleased with the way I played.”

Djokovic has now reached the semifinals or better in all eight of his career appearances at the Rolex Shanghai Masters. He’s a three-time champion here, winning the title in 2012, 2013 and 2015.

Awaiting him in this year’s semifinals will be the No. 4 seed, Alexander Zverev, who beat 11th-seeded Kyle Edmund in his quarterfinal match, 6-4, 6-4, a win that also qualified him for the Nitto ATP Finals.

Zverev actually beat Djokovic in their only previous meeting, 6-4, 6-3, in final of Rome in 2017.

“We haven’t played in a long time,” the Serb said. “He’s really established himself as a top player. Big serve, so it’s going to be quite similar to the style of opponent that I had today. I’ll try to see what I did well today and keep on doing it well tomorrow, and see if there are some things that I can do better.”

Federer, the No. 1 seed and a two-time champion at this event in 2014 and 2017, joined Djokovic in the semifinals with a 6-4, 7-6 (4) victory over No. 8 seed Kei Nishikori in the last match of the day.

After having to go to three sets to win his first two matches of the week—6-4, 4-6, 6-4 against Daniil Medvedev and 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 against Roberto Bautista Agut—Federer looked in danger of doing it again against Nishikori, letting go of a one-break lead midway through the second set and falling behind 4-1 in the tiebreaker. But he reeled off six points in a row to close the match out in straight sets.

Awaiting Federer in the semifinals will be the No. 13 seed, Borna Coric, who beat Matthew Ebden in his quarterfinal match, 7-5, 6-4. Ebden had taken out No. 6 seed Dominic Thiem earlier in the week.

Federer leads Coric in their head-to-head, 2-1, but Coric’s win came in their last meeting, a 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-2 stunner in the final of Halle before Wimbledon this year (Federer was ranked No. 1 at the time).

The battle for No. 2 between Federer and Djokovic could come to its conclusion on Semifinal Saturday—for Federer to hang onto No. 2, he needs to win the title with Djokovic losing in the semifinals. If Djokovic wins one more match this week (or if Federer loses one) then Djokovic will take No. 2.

This Week on Tennis Channel PLUS

Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev headline the ATP Rolex Shanghai Masters. Watch live coverage from five courts on Tennis Channel PLUS beginning Saturday, 10/6 at 12:00 am ET.

The Race to the ATP Finals is heating up. Watch all the action on Tennis Channel PLUS.

Live coverage from Shanghai, Basel, Vienna & Paris all lead into the ATP World Tour Finals this November!