Djokovic's refusal to disclose his health status raises concerns, with old injuries unresolved and new ones emerging.

Vacherot came to Shanghai as a substitute, initially unsure about his qualification chances, but ended up securing the most remarkable win of his career. During the Shanghai Masters semifinals, the Monaco player ranked 204th in the world stunned the crowd by beating Djokovic, a four-time champion, and went on to claim the title.

At 26 years old, Vacherot remained calm and fearless throughout, making world No. 5 Djokovic unusually unsettled. As the first set progressed, Djokovic appeared troubled by worsening hip issues and struggled to find his rhythm during the entire match.

At the post-match press conference, when asked about his physical condition, Djokovic gave a “reserved response.” After the match, a reporter asked, “How are you feeling now? What risks did you take to continue playing? Will you rest next week or head to Saudi Arabia?” Djokovic shifted to a formal tone, choosing to praise his opponent rather than discuss his own health.

“I want to congratulate Vacherot on reaching his first Masters final,” he said. “Coming through the qualifiers to the final is an incredible story. I told him at the net that his performance was unbelievable, and more importantly, his attitude was excellent, and he played very well. So today belongs to him, and I wish him luck in the final — the better player won today.”

Clearly not in good form, Djokovic received multiple medical treatments during recent matches and even vomited at the side of the court, yet he refused to withdraw and completed two sets despite not being at his best. After the match, the Serbian star still declined to comment on his physical condition, remaining silent about the injury that appeared to affect his entire performance.

When another reporter pressed, “Can you talk about your physical condition?” Djokovic replied briefly and coldly, “No. Next question.”

In the seventh game of the first set in the Shanghai semifinal (down 3-4 to Vacherot), he painfully stopped the match and requested a medical timeout. The physiotherapist immediately came on court, while Djokovic held his lower back, clearly struggling to maintain his usual smooth movement and control.

Reports indicate that Djokovic had previously been troubled by his right ankle, left adductor, and right shoulder, and now in Shanghai, a new injury appeared above his left hip. For a player known for his fitness and recovery ability, this new injury has again raised concerns about his physical condition.

In fact, this is not the first time Djokovic has been pushed to his limits. Previously, during a match against world No. 41 Munar, he collapsed from exhaustion, completely drained by the hot and humid weather. That moment was shocking — Djokovic fell to the ground, then slowly sat up, head down between his knees, as staff rushed to his side.

In an earlier match against Hanfmann, Djokovic was seen vomiting at the side of the court — a clear indication of the extreme conditions players faced this week. “When humidity exceeds 80% every day, the matches become extremely tough. Especially for those playing during the day under the scorching sun. Physiologically, it’s more challenging for me to cope with this weather. But I have to grit my teeth and persevere.”

After everything settled, Djokovic posted a heartfelt message on social platform X, writing: “Shanghai, you will always be in my heart. Thank you for everything. Vacherot, this moment belongs to you. You played brilliantly and made Monaco proud. Good luck in the final.”

Although many continue to discuss the unexpected outcome of this match, what truly touched the tennis world was Djokovic’s attitude — kind, generous, and full of respect.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Spark)