Djokovic 'shakes off rust' to reach Shanghai Masters third round, set to face Michelsen

At 37, Djokovic admitted it took him time to find his rhythm but was able to stay composed during critical moments in both sets to claim victory.

Michelsen, ranked 43rd in the world, surprised many by taking an early 4-1 lead in the first set, but Djokovic's experience helped him claw back into the match, eventually winning the first set in a tiebreak. In the second set, the 20-year-old Michelsen pushed the four-time Shanghai champion into another tiebreak before Djokovic closed it out.

Djokovic acknowledged Michelsen’s strong performance, saying, "It took me a little bit of time to get the rust off... I was very glad to keep calm when it mattered." The crowd was delighted when Djokovic delivered a speech in Mandarin and even added a phrase in the local Shanghainese dialect after the match.

Meanwhile, other top players in the tournament, including Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, advanced with straightforward victories. Sinner beat Japan’s Taro Daniel 6-1, 6-4, and Alcaraz comfortably defeated China's Shang Juncheng 6-2, 6-2. Both players showcased their top form and avoided any signs of fatigue despite a busy schedule leading up to the tournament.

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Sinner, who will face Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the next round, remained calm throughout his match and expressed confidence despite his recent schedule, including a loss to Alcaraz in the China Open final.

Alcaraz, too, was in control throughout his match, dazzling the crowd with his shot-making and charismatic energy. The 21-year-old will now face wildcard Wu Yibing in the next round, continuing his quest for the Shanghai title.

In other action, the tournament saw the exits of notable top-10 players. Andrey Rublev was eliminated by Czech teenager Jakub Mensik, losing 6-7 (7/9), 6-4, 6-3. Rublev’s loss follows that of Casper Ruud, marking a challenging tournament for some of the world’s best.