Valentin Vacherot took down Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters over the weekend, and the Serbian legend had a heartwarming response after the match. Djokovic graciously told Vacherot that he ‘deserved’ the win following his loss at the Shanghai Masters on Saturday. The Serbian star, who just turned 38 in May, struggled with a troublesome hip issue during the match and sadly couldn’t muster the strength needed to defeat his qualifier opponent.
Djokovic has been quite selective about the tournaments he participates in, aiming to manage his schedule carefully as he approaches the later years of his career. After a brief break from competitive play following his semi-final appearance at the US Open in September, Djokovic returned to action in China this month in pursuit of a second ATP Tour title of the season. Despite facing tough battles against Marin Cilic, Yannick Hanfmann, and Jaume Munar in earlier matches, Djokovic managed to secure a spot in the semi-finals where he faced Vacherot.
However, Djokovic’s hip problem resurfaced early in the match, leading to a medical timeout at 3-3 in the first set and eventually a 6-3, 6-4 defeat at the hands of Vacherot. Despite the tough loss, the 24-time Grand Slam champion acknowledged Vacherot’s achievement with a simple yet powerful message at the net, saying “You deserve it.” Djokovic also congratulated Vacherot on reaching his first Masters final, praising his positive attitude and impressive game. Vacherot, on the other hand, was overjoyed by the victory, calling the experience of playing against Djokovic invaluable.
