Djokovic: Hoping Zheng Qinwen Returns to the Court Healthy and Strong

On October 9th, Beijing time, the quarterfinals of the men's singles bottom half at the 2025 Shanghai Rolex Masters began, where Serbian star Djokovic fought hard over two sets to overcome Belgian competitor Belkhass 6-3, 7-5, advancing to the final four.

Summarizing the match, Djokovic stated: “Today was not an easy match; at this stage, no match is simple. Zizou (Belkhass) has been performing excellently recently, and it was very tough for me to win in straight sets.”

Regarding his physical condition, Djokovic was reluctant to share too much: “My leg is doing well now. In every match, some physical issues arise, along with other matters we are working on daily to improve. I hope things get better as the tournament progresses. I have a day off before the semifinals, which is good for me, and I will approach the next match with the right mindset and motivation to try to win.”

During the post-match interview, a reporter mentioned that yesterday was Zheng Qinwen’s birthday and that she has recently been troubled by injuries, asking if Djokovic could offer any advice on injury management. Djokovic replied: “Injuries are always the biggest enemy for athletes. First of all, I want to wish her a speedy recovery and hope she returns to the court healthy and strong, continuing to show the level she has demonstrated over the past few years. She has won gold for China and reached a Grand Slam final, showing great skill. She is a wonderful person, and we have a good relationship.”

“I believe she has great talent, a positive attitude, and an excellent team around her. She is still very young, so it is even more important to think long-term rather than rushing back to play. The priority should be laying a foundation for her physical and mental health over the next ten to fifteen years because she can still compete for many years and has the potential to achieve even greater success, including winning a Grand Slam title, which I hope she does. She knows she can always come to me for advice, and I am more than willing to share my experiences.”

In the semifinals, Djokovic will face qualifier dark horse Vacherot for a spot in the final. He said he knows this opponent fairly well: “I know this player; before the tournament, his ranking was outside the top 200. He is Monaco’s most successful tennis player, and we all know one of the biggest tennis events (Monte-Carlo Masters) is held in Monaco. So, I am happy for him and his team. I have known his coach for many years, and he has made significant progress.”

Looking ahead to the semifinal, Djokovic commented: “We have always known he has a powerful serve, is very aggressive, and has great potential. His playing style is actually quite similar to Lindgren, and I’m glad to see them supporting each other. He has achieved great success here. I look forward to the match and hope I can win.”

(Text and editing: Wang Fei, Dato; Photos: Provided by the tournament)