Debutant Stefanos Tsitsipas crushed defending champion Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday to book his place in the last four of the ATP Finals with a match to spare.
'It's a different surface and I've not had much time to get used to this tournament so my expectations aren't that high.'
Alexander Zverev into ATP Finals semis after straight sets win over Carlos Alcaraz
Sinner's retirement and world number one Alcaraz's withdrawal due to an ankle injury blows the draw wide open, with Djokovic in the hunt for a record-extending fifth title in Shanghai.
The 45-year-old Bopanna's final appearance on the Tour came at the Paris Masters, where he partnered Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik, losing in the opening round earlier this week.
The Serbian Wimbledon champion extended his win streak to nine, wrapping up the final in 75 minutes without facing a break point and booked his place at next month's ATP Finals.
His previous best was 97 in February, which he had attained after winning the Chennai Open, an ATP Challenger series event.
Australia booked their place in the Davis Cup semi-finals as doubles pair Matthew Ebden and Jordan Thompson clinched the deciding rubber against the United States on Thursday.
'I guess only the top players' images matter. I guess only the independent tribunal's opinion on the top players is taken as sound and right.'
Britain's Cameron Norrie stunned world number one Carlos Alcaraz to reach the third round of the Paris Masters.
Rohan Bopanna and his Australian partner Matthew Ebden advanced to the quarterfinals
Japan Open: Alcaraz marches into quarterfinals, hails "best physio in the world" after overcoming ankle issues
Earlier this week, Bopanna and Ebden had clinched a spot in the prestigious season-ending ATP Finals.
Arjun Kadhe and Vijay Sundar Prashanth were beaten in the semi-finals of the Swiss Open after losing in straight sets to third seeds Albano Olivetti and Hendrik Jebens.
The events will be on single-year licence as the ATP offers professionals the opportunity to earn money and ranking points in the wake of the coronavirus shutdown.
Jannik Sinner's dazzling winning streak ground to a halt ahead of the French Open but the world number one's top-notch return from a three-month doping ban suggests he will be the main challenger to Carlos Alcaraz in Paris.
Sumit Nagal registered a straight-sets win over Argentine qualifier Nicolas Kicker.
The tournament's once-robust pool of around 300 line judges has been cut to 80 and they will serve as "match assistants", who support chair umpires and step in should the ELC -- powered by more than 450 cameras -- fail in any of the 18 courts in use.
World number one Jannik Sinner produced a sublime semi-final display as he fought back from a set down to beat American Tommy Paul 1-6, 6-0, 6-3 on Friday to set up an Italian Open final showdown with Carlos Alcaraz.
The match marked world number two Medvedev's ninth win in a row at the ATP Finals and he improved his head-to-head record over Ruud to 3-0.
Mboko saved a match point against Kazakh ninth seed Rybakina in front of adoring home support
Medvedev outlasts Zverev to reach Halle final
'I have no idea what's happening right now, I'm not in a dream, it's just crazy. I'm just so happy with my performance these past two weeks.'
Djokovic to face World number 204 Valentin Vacherot next.
Factbox on Spanish second seed Carlos Alcaraz, who beat Italian world number one Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2) in the French Open final on Sunday to win his fifth Grand Slam title.
Djokovic etched his name in history by clinching a record 24 Grand Slam titles
Andrey Rublev reached the final of the Qatar Open on Friday with a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(5) win over Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime, and will meet Jack Draper in the decider after the Briton beat Czech Jiri Lehecka.
Jannik Sinner won his maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open on Sunday.
Carlos Alcaraz has defended his decision to play in the lucrative Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Saudi Arabia
No. 2 seed Casper Ruud of Norway will take on unseeded Denis Shapovalov of Canada in the Dallas Open final on Sunday after both notched semi-final victories.
Former world number one Andy Murray is in line to play Grigor Dimitrov in the opening round of the inaugural ATP Cup, with Bulgaria qualifying among the final six teams in the nation-based tournament.
Already assured of a spot in the top 10 on Monday, the 23-year-old Jack Draper hoped to make his first foray into a Masters 1000 final a triumphant one when he meets Dane Holger Rune at Indian Wells on Sunday.
France's Boisson wins first WTA title in Hamburg
While Jannik Sinner and French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz have won the last seven major titles between them, the Italian cautioned against complacency and pointed to the strength of competition in the ATP Tour.
American lucky loser Reilly Opelka put up an intense battle to stun top seed Daniil Medvedev 7-6(5), 7-6(5) and reach the semi-finals in Den Bosch on Friday.
Novak Djokovic fell short in his bid to claim a 100th ATP title following a straight sets defeat by Czech teenager Jakub Mensik in the Miami Open final
Bhambri, Nedunchezhiyan-Prashanth reach ATP 250 doubles finals in China
Novak Djokovic is ready to challenge Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at the Grand Slam stage when he returns to action at the Australian Open after an underwhelming campaign this year, the 24-times champion said.
Rafael Nadal's hopes of winning the year-ending ATP Finals for the first time live on after the Spaniard beat defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 on Thursday.
Australia now have the opportunity to avenge last year's final defeat by Italy after world number one Jannik Sinner inspired the holders to a 2-1 victory over Argentina.
