Djokovic, another victim of the Shanghai heat: the sequence that included vomiting in the victory against Hanfmann

ByDavid Mitchell
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Accustomed to suffering from high temperatures, the Serbian Novak Djokovic (5th) did not manage to avoid the heat or humidity this Sunday in the Shanghai Masters 1000where he suffered more than necessary to beat the German 4-6, 7-5 and 6-3 Yannick Hanfmann (159th) for the third round.

In order to avoid the worst defeat by ranking in the category, the former world number 1, executioner of Croatian Marin Cilic (94th) in the premiere, had to recover from a hesitant start against the battler qualywho had just surprised Lorenzo Sonego (46th) and Frances Tiafoe (28th) in the previous rounds, as well as the 34 degrees that punished the Chinese event, mainly in the second setmoment in which he took advantage of some side changes to vomit at the back of the court and behind his rest bench.

After equalizing the score with a point to hang in a square, the owner of 100 titles on the men’s circuit, 24 Grand Slam titles, would bring out his category and his validity to ensure victory in exactly two hours and 42 minutes of play, reaching the round of 16 for the eleventh time at the close of the Asian tour, in which he stands as the top champion with four coronations.

“It’s the same for all the players on the field but it’s brutal. It’s brutal when you have 80% humidity every day, particularly for the guys who play during the day in the heat and sun.”“, stated the gold medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games regarding the weather conditions, in line with the statements of Hamad Medjedovic (65°), Arthur Rinderkench (54°) and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (37°), among others.

“For me, biologically, it’s a little more challenging. But I had to fight the storm today, Yannick played an incredible game from the beginning. He deserves great credit and a round of applause for his performance. He was close to winning it. Obviously I’m proud of overcoming this challenge. I want to thank the Chinese public for supporting me tonight, their energy was incredible,” continued Djokovic, who will face the Spaniard Jaume Munar (41st) this Tuesday in search of getting into the top eight.

All the action of the Shanghai Masters 1000 can be followed, live and exclusively, on Disney+ Premium Plan.

David Mitchell
David Mitchell

As a passionate sports journalist with over a decade of experience, I strive to uncover the heart and soul behind every game. Supported by a dedicated team of fellow enthusiasts and storytellers, I am committed to delivering insightful and engaging content that connects fans worldwide. Together, we celebrate the victories, challenges, and unifying spirit of sports through every article we craft.