Fourth-seeded Novak Djokovic recorded a 6-1, 6-2 win over 28th-seeded Flavio Cobolli on Tuesday to breeze into the fourth round of the Shanghai Masters.
Seeking his 100th career ATP Tour-level title, Djokovic fired three aces and won 20 of 24 first-serve points to dispatch the 22-year-old Italian in a tidy 63 minutes.
“From the beginning I had a clear game plan of what I needed to do, staying aggressive and trying to use every short ball to take the initiative in the point,” Djokovic said. “Cobolli was evidently exhausted after last night’s match (against Stan Wawrinka). I think that has taken a toll, physically, on him today.
“I haven’t played too many matches, I think the positive in that is that I’m fresh, so I am happy to play every day (for) as long as it takes.”
Djokovic will continue his pursuit of his fifth title in Shanghai in the fourth round against Russian Roman Safiullin, who struck 51 winners during a 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (5) victory over 13th-seeded American Frances Tiafoe.
Second-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany posted a 7-6 (6), 2-6, 7-6 (5) win over Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands.
Also on Tuesday, No. 7 seed Taylor Fritz cruised to a 6-3, 6-4 win over Japan’s Yosuke Watanuki and ninth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria posted a 7-6 (5), 6-2 win over 20th-seeded Alexei Popyrin of Australia.
“One day at a time at the moment for me,” Dimitrov said after recording just 14 unforced errors during his 88-minute victory. “There’s been so many things that have been moving around, and at the same time I’m very thankful to be out here again. At the same time, putting matches together under my belt, back-to-back, is very important for me.”
Twelfth-seeded Holger Rune of Denmark posted a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic and 14th-seeded Ben Shelton seized a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena.
Sixteenth-seeded Ugo Humbert was not as fortunate on Tuesday and fell to fellow Frenchman Gael Monfils.
“It’s never easy to play Ugo, he’s really aggressive, playing fast off both wings and takes a lot of time from you,” Monfils said after his 7-6 (7), 2-6, 6-1 win.
No. 10 Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece eliminated France’s Alexandre Muller 6-3, 7-5, setting up a showdown with No. 5 seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia.
–Field Level Media
