Shanghai Masters: Novak Djokovic beats Jakub Mensik to reach semifinals

Novak Djokovic's bid to claim a landmark 100th ATP title remained on track as he defeated talented teenager Jakub Mensik in the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters.

The Serbian fourth seed lost the first set in a tiebreak against the 19-year-old from the Czech Republic, but fought back to a 6-7 (4-7), 6-1, 6-4 win.

Djokovic, 37, will face American world number seven Taylor Fritz in the second semifinal on Saturday.

The 26-year-old Fritz easily beat the Belgian David Goffin 6:3 and 6:4 on Friday and thus secured his place in the last four. This extended a run in which Fritz made it past the third round for the first time in Shanghai.

After reaching his 78th Masters 1,000 semifinal, Djokovic was full of praise for his much younger opponent.

“Jakub is someone I have been following for the last three or four years,” he said. “We were neck and neck until the last moment, until the last game.

“Today I could understand why he is one of the best servers we have in the game – and he is only 19 years old.”

“I think the future is very bright for him. He knows that I’m always there for him, no matter what he needs.”

Mensik held his nerve in the opening set against Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion.

Djokovic, a record four-time winner of the tournament, regrouped after a poor performance in the tie-breaker and cruised through the second set with ease before ending the match after two hours and 21 minutes.

Although US Open runner-up Fritz could be a tough test for Djokovic, the decorated veteran holds a career record of 9-0 from his past encounters.