(Shanghai) Novak Djokovic, who is looking for his 100e career title on the ATP circuit, easily defeated Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 6-2 in the third round of the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament on Tuesday.
Djokovic confirmed his victory by slamming his 19e winning shot, sending his forehand behind the Italian, while he was jostled at the back of the court.
The fourth-seeded Serb did not concede a break point to his opponent in the third round, after having to play two tiebreaks and saving set points against American Alex Michelsen in the previous round.
Djokovic, who has won four of his 99 career titles in Shanghai, will face Russian Roman Safiullin in the next round, who surprised American Frances Tiafoe 5-7, 7-5 and 7-6 (5).
Earlier today, Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas learned that he will restart his rivalry with Daniil Medvedev after defeating Alexandre Müller 6-3, 7-5.
Tsitsipas, 12e world player, and the Russian, a former US Open champion, will face off for the 14e time, and the first in almost a year. Medvedev, the fifth racket in the world, is 9-4 in his career against Tsitsipas, and their rivalry has often heated up off the court over the years.
“I respect him on the circuit, much more than before,” Tsitsipas admitted. We’ve already had a few spats on the court, but I think time has worked things out. »
Tsitsipas had to wait two days due to rain before playing his third round match against Müller. He seemed in full control of the match until he was broken at 5-3 in the second set. Unmoved, the Greek immediately responded with a break of service to secure the victory and set the table for the duel against Medvedev.
Furthermore, the American Ben Shelton disposed of Roberto Carballes Baena 6-3, 6-4, after scoring eight aces and 24 winning shots. He will meet in the fourth round with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
His compatriot, Taylor Fritz, also continued his journey after ousting the Japanese Yosuke Watanuki 6-3, 6-4, while Grigor Dimitrov, who takes part in his 100e Masters 1000 series tournament, defeated Alexei Popyrin 7-6 (5), 6-3.
Frenchman Gaël Monfils overthrew the 15the world player Ugo Humbert 7-6 (7), 2-6 and 6-1. The 38-year-old veteran, who is ranked 46e in the world, became the second oldest player in Shanghai Masters history to reach the fourth round. Only the Swiss Roger Federer (also at the age of 38) had achieved this before him, in 2019.
“It’s always difficult to face Ugo, because he is very aggressive, he plays quickly in the corridors and it takes time (to overcome him),” noted Monfils, who will now face the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.
Monfils will now face Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.
For his part, Tomas Machac, who reached the final four in Tokyo, easily defeated Australian Alexander Vukic 6-4, 6-2. He will face in the third round on the 13the world player, Tommy Paul.
World No. 3 Alexander Zverev will battle Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor late Tuesday evening.
Siniakova will face Sabalenka in Wuhan
Katerina Siniakova easily defeated the Philippine Alexandra Eala 6-3, 6-1 to set the table for a second round duel against the reigning champion of the Wuhan tournament, Aryna Sabalenka.
Sabalenka, who won the title in her last appearance in 2019, only needs to reach the quarter-finals in Wuhan to seize first place in the world. Poland’s Iga Swiatek is absent from this Asian tour, citing fatigue and personal issues. Swiatek recently cut ties with his coach Tomasz Wiktorowski.
Her compatriot, Magda Linette, mishandled the 23e world player Liudmila Samsonova 6-2, 6-2, while Ekaterina Alexandrova toppled former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.
Other winners today include Britain’s Katie Boulter, American Amanda Anisimova, Bulgaria’s Viktoriya Tomova and Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian, who will face Paris Games gold medalist Zheng Qinwen in the next round.
After ending her 24-game losing streak last week at the China Open, Zhang Shuai fell back into her bad habits and lost 6-4, 6-4 to Kazakh Yulia Putintseva in the third round.
The top eight seeds, including Sabalenka and China Open champion Coco Gauff, earned a bye into the second round.
The Canadian Leylah Annie Fernandez must also meet the Russian Kamilla Rakhimova (no. 66), after having disposed of her compatriot Diana Shnaider 6-7 7), 6-3 and 6-3 in the curtain raiser of the tournament the day before.