Novak Djokovic, the world`s fifth-ranked tennis player, shared his reflections on his hard-fought victory over Marin Cilic in the second round of the Shanghai Masters, securing a win with scores of 7/6(2), 6/4. This match marked the Serb`s return to competitive play following his appearance at the US Open.
“It was quite challenging to find my rhythm from the baseline; the absence of recent match play was definitely noticeable. Having last competed at the US Open, the start of this match felt very difficult. When Marin is in his prime form and has a good feel for the ball, he possesses the ability to defeat any opponent. He constantly pressured me and truly didn`t allow me a moment to relax. I believe my strong serve was key in helping me navigate through the tough moments and avoid deeper trouble. That aspect is certainly gratifying,” Djokovic commented.
“I hold immense respect for Marin. Our relationship off the court has always been excellent, and we`ve known each other for many years. It had been three years since we last faced each other in a match, so I`m genuinely pleased to see him competing at such a high level again,” Djokovic added during his post-match interview on court.
