Shanghai Rolex Masters 2015: Saturday Tennis Scores, Results, Updated Schedule

Novak Djokovic will face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final of the Shanghai Rolex Masters 2015 after clinching a straight-sets defeat of Andy Murray on Saturday, trouncing the Scot 6-1, 6-3 in China.

Tsonga booked his spot in the final after defeating 2009 finalist Rafael Nadal 6-4, 0-6, 7-5 on Saturday, emerging from a mid-match lull to edge his opponent in a tense encounter.

This will be Tsonga's first time appearing in a Shanghai Masters final, while Djokovic has won the tournament twice and is seeking his hat-trick this weekend.

Read on for a roundup of Saturday's semi-final results as the Shanghai Rolex Masters 2015 edges ever closer to what's shaping up to be a superstar showcase.

Player 1	Score	Player 2
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (16)	6-4, 0-6, 7-5	Rafael Nadal (8)
Novak Djokovic (1)	6-1, 6-3	Andy Murray (3)

Recap

Much was expected of Saturday's second semi-final as Djokovic entered the fray seeking his fifth season win over Murray, but Shanghai could hardly have been prepared for a display this domineering.

This was far from the Murray we saw who defeated Djokovic in the 2013 Wimbledon final, or perhaps it was more fitting to assert this simply wasn't the same Djokovic.

French journalist Carole Bouchard did a fine job of summarising the Serbian's "scary" evolution as he proceeded to claim the first set 6-1 on Saturday in a devastating display of initiative:

The assault came hard and fast as the Serb effectively suffocated Murray with his gangly frame. Djokovic's renowned athleticism reached the peak of its boundaries in Shanghai.

Murray's didn't aid his crusade with his own mistakes as he committed four first-set double faults compared to Djokovic's spotless record, per Flashscore.com, but the job was all too easy for the victor, per ESPN Tennis:

"

26 mins. Thats all the time Djokovic needs to win 6-1 1st set vs Murray. Hes just a set away from 3rd Shanghai final pic.twitter.com/QNN0GLCbhx

— ESPNTennis (@ESPNTennis) October 17, 2015"

In fact, Murray's very first serve proved to be the only one he successfully defended from Djokovic's reach, and he managed to open the second set in similarly hopeful circumstance, breaking the world No. 1 to inspire some glimmer of hope.

And yet the Scot couldn't help but be demoralised as Djokovic levelled at 1-1 following what Sky Sports called "one of the greatest points of the year." Murray threw his all, but it wasn't enough:

It became hard to fault Murray for the effort he continued to pledge despite facing such an unstoppable force, and his defiance could only last so long, particularly as the world No. 2 lost back-to-back serves to trail 3-1.

They proved to be the last he would surrender on Saturday, but it was all Djokovic needed as Murray's comeback attempt lasted for just a single game, a howling symbol of the Serbian's irrepressible talent.

Even he became slightly too casual as he edged closer to triumph, but he sealed the finishing touch with aplomb and put another 20-set winning streak in the books heading into Sunday's final:

Fans in Shanghai were treated to a blistering start earlier in Shanghai as Nadal and Tsonga opened up with an exhilarating start to the match, where the former teetered on the edge of a disastrous break point but just managed to hold serve.

But Nadal would be the first to blink as Tsonga thundered a terrific backhand beyond the Spaniard's assault on the net—a response that reminded the world No. 7 just who he was up against, per Sky Sports:

The French combatant held his nerve from there and had enough about him to serve out the first set with a 6-4 victory, claiming an impressive 88 percent win ratio on his first serve, per Flashscore.com.

Tsonga's superior serving came to the fore in the opening 10 games, too, as he clinched six aces en route to taking a one-set lead, while his opponent couldn't muster even one.

Andy Wong/Associated Press

Nadal came up against a serving menace in Ivo Karlovic last time out and managed to emerge triumphant, and once again he showed resolve to bounce back with a much more confident display in the second set.

As pointed out by Punters Lounge Tennis, it was at this point Tsonga's error count began to stack up against him. He conceded his serve on three occasions and committed three double faults in a 6-0 turnaround:

"

#Nadal is back - and Tsonga has started to make errors. 6-0 the second set! #ShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/hG0diUpMEU

— PuntersLounge Tennis (@PLTennisTips) October 17, 2015"

Though a one-sided affair that might have been, Tsonga rediscovered his stride in a climactic deciding set, and the two contenders warred over 12 games as defence all of a sudden returned to impenetrable standards.

There was barely any pulling Saturday's titans apart in the third set, particularly as Nadal struck back from a 0-40 deficit in the third game to batter his way to a 2-1 lead, per Live Tennis:

"

"VAMOS!" Quite, Rafa. From 0-40 down, #Nadal wins 5 straight points - including 2 off-forehand winners - for 2-1. Can't argue with that!

— Live Tennis (@livetennis) October 17, 2015"

By and large, each player remained dominant on his own serve as the score ticked up at level-pegging. The blow-for-blow nature was evidenced by the fact there wasn't another deuce for the remainder of the match.

That was until Tsonga took just his second break of the match at 6-5 having already served just to remain in the contest, earning his shot at the Shanghai main stage.

The best was yet to come, though, as France's heavy hitter threw every inch of his being into a lunge Sky Sports dubbed the "shot of the year" at 6-5, which put him within match point:

And the 30-year-old stood resolute to win the decisive point and make Sunday's title shot, where Murray or Djokovic promises to provide an even greater challenge.

The second-set disappointment is the kind Tsonga won't be able to exhibit in his next outing, as Saturday's defiant display showed him at both the lowest of lows and the highest of highs.