Strong serving gets Djokovic out of trouble

Novak Djokovic got his Shanghai Masters campaign up and running on Oct 3 when he overcame Marin Cilic 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 in his bid for a record-extending fifth title.

- 

Novak Djokovic beating Marin Cilic 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 at the Shanghai Masters on Oct 3. The Serb's next opponent is Yannick Hanfmann in the last 32.

(PHOTO: REUTERS)

The Serb did not have it easy, as he had to absorb his Croatian opponent's 20 winners in the first set alone. However, counting on his experience, he bounced back to clinch victory in 1hr 55min.

At 38, Djokovic had recently suffered fitness concerns, including physical worries that affected him during the US Open in September.

In the end, he hung on to lead the 37-year-old Cilic 20-2 in their head-to-head record.

According to the ATP website, by claiming his 40th win in Shanghai, he became the first man to record 40 or more wins at six different ATP Masters 1000 events since the series was introduced in 1990.

His other wins were in Rome (68), Indian Wells (51), Paris (50), Miami (49) and Cincinnati (45).