Novak Djokovic vs Taylor Fritz Prediction Shanghai Masters Tennis Picks 10/12/24

Novak Djokovic ended the giant-killing run of Czech teenager Jakub Mensik in three sets. It looked like Mensik would pick up his third career Top 10 win this week, but Djokovic turned around a one-set deficit to win 6-7, 6-1, 6-4 in two hours and 20 minutes.

In the victory, Djokovic fired seven aces and landed 63% of first serves. He won 83% first-serve points (43/52) and 57% second-serve points (17/30). Djokovic converted four of nine break points and was only broken once in the match.

Taylor Fritz, meanwhile, reached his first Masters 1000 hard-court semifinal since 2022 Indian Wells. The American defeated David Goffin 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 23 minutes. Fritz hammered ten aces and landed 67% of first serves. He won 68% of first-serve points (28/41) and 70% of second-serve points (14/20). Fritz converted three of seven break points and saved three of four on his own serve.

Fritz has significantly enhanced his chances of qualifying for the ATP Finals in Turin (up to fifth in the live race).

Novak Djokovic vs Taylor Fritz Head-To-Head

• Novak Djokovic leads Taylor Fritz 9-0 in their head-to-head.

• They have played once this year, with Djokovic winning a four-set quarterfinal at the Australian Open.

Novak Djokovic vs Taylor Fritz Prediction

The head-to-head suggests that Fritz has a mountain to climb on Saturday. He's not just been unable to defeat Djokovic in nine meetings, but he's also won only two sets. Such has been Djokovic's dominance in their series. And it is hard to contemplate an upset here, even though this has been one of the most challenging seasons of Djokovic's career. It's clear that the Serbian has left a mental scar on the American. Back Djokovic to sail into his first Masters 1000 final of the season.