Overview

• Novak Djokovic beat fellow veteran Marin Cilic 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, with a pivotal 12-minute 11th game preceding the first-set tiebreak.
• Cilic committed seven unforced errors in the opener, helping Djokovic claim the tiebreak and carry momentum into an early second-set break.
• Djokovic showed signs of back discomfort yet held serve authoritatively, reeling off four consecutive service games without dropping a point.
• He saved two break points in the final game and closed on his first match point with his 10th ace.
• The victory was his 40th in Shanghai, making him the first player with at least 40 wins at six different Masters 1000 events, and it set up a Sunday match against qualifier Yannick Hanfmann, who upset Frances Tiafoe.