Top-seeded Novak Djokovic narrowly avoided an upset at the Shanghai Masters on Sunday, admitting he was near defeat hanging by a rope before overcoming qualifier Yannick Hanfmann in a tough three-set battle 4 - 6 , 7 - 5 , 6 - 3 to secure his spot in the last 16.
The 38-year-old Serb, aiming for a record-extending fifth title in Shanghai, was pushed to his limits by the world number 150 in a match that stretched late into the humid evening.
Djokovic opened brightly, firing a pair of aces to the crowd's delight, but Hanfmann quickly found his rhythm and broke early in the third game. The German maintained his composure to seal the first set, leaving the top seed under real pressure.