Djokovic easily moves into the fourth round of the Shanghai Masters and meets Safiullin, who defeated Tiafoe

SHANGHAI (AP) — Novak Djokovic, seeking his 100th career title, had an easier time in his second match at the Shanghai Masters, beating Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 6-2 on Tuesday.

Djokovic clinched the game with his 19th game-winning goal, placing a forehand behind the Italian, who raced back down the baseline after being pushed past the goal by the serve.

The fourth-seeded Serb did not allow a break point in the third round after he had previously exhausted two tiebreakers against the American Alex Michelsen and saved set points.

“Cobolli was obviously exhausted after last night’s match,” Djokovic said of his opponent, who advanced with a victory over three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka. “I think that took a toll on him physically today.”

Djokovic, who has won four of his 99 titles in Shanghai, will next face 61st-ranked Roman Safiullin, who beat Frances Tiafoe 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (5).

Tiafoe congratulated Safiullin, then left the court, hurling insults at the umpire who a few minutes earlier had committed a time violation on the No. 13 seed American’s serve. Tiafoe had thrown the ball into the air, although it was unclear whether it was an attempted serve.

Later on Tuesday, third-place Alexander Zverev also used profanity in an exchange with the referee. When Zverev stretched to play a shot that was nearing the net, it was correctly ruled a double bounce.

Zverev converted his eighth match point and defeated Tallon Griekspoor 7:6 (6), 2:6, 7:6 (5).

Stefanos Tsitsipas’ rivalry with Daniil Medvedev will add another chapter after the Greek player beat Alexandre Muller 6-3, 7-5.

Twelfth-seeded Tsitsipas and the former Russian US Open champion will meet for the 14th time and for the first time in almost a year. Fifth-placed Medvedev has a commanding 9-4 lead in the head-to-head series, which has led to wars of words off the pitch in the past.

“We have had some heated things on the pitch in the past, but I think these things have resolved themselves over time,” Tsitsipas said.

Tsitsipas had to wait through a two-day rain delay to play his third-round match against Muller but appeared to be completely under control until he lost his serve 5-3 in the second set. The Greek remained unfazed in his comeback to win the game and renew his six-year rivalry with Medvedev.

16th-ranked Ben Shelton defeated Roberto Carballes Baena 6-3, 6-4, firing eight aces and 24 winners and sending top seed Jannik Sinner into the fourth round.

Seventh-seeded Taylor Fritz also advanced with ease, defeating Japan’s Yosuke Watanuki 6-3, 6-4, while Grigor Dimitrov, competing in his 100th Masters event, defeated Alexei Popyrin 7-6 (5), 6-6. 3 defeated.

Gael Monfils defeated 15th-ranked Ugo Humbert 7-6 (7), 2-6, 6-1 in an all-French duel. The 38-year-old Monfils, ranked 46th, is the second oldest player to reach the fourth round in Shanghai, behind only Roger Federer (also 38) in 2019.

“It’s never easy playing Ugo, he’s really aggressive, plays quickly on both wings and takes up a lot of your time,” said Monfils, who next plays against runner-up Carlos Alcaraz.

Additionally, Tomas Machac, who reached the semi-finals in Tokyo, beat Australian Alexander Vukic 6-4, 6-2 and will next face 13th-seeded Tommy Paul in the third round.

Wuhan open

Katerina Siniakova won comfortably 6:3, 6:1 over Alexandra Eala from the Philippines and thus set up a second round match against defending champion Aryna Sabalenka.

Second-seeded Sabalenka, who won the title at the last edition in 2019, only needs to reach the quarterfinals in Wuhan to reclaim the top spot in the rankings from Iga Swiatek, who withdrew from the women’s Asian swing due to fatigue and personal reasons has. Swiatek recently parted ways with coach Tomasz Wiktorowski.

Magda Linette of Poland beat 23rd-ranked Liudmila Samsonova 6-2, 6-2, and Ekaterina Alexandrova beat former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin of the USA 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.

Other winners included Britain’s Katie Boulter, American Amanda Anisimova, Bulgaria’s Viktoriya Tomova and Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian, who next faces Paris Olympics gold medalist Zheng Qinwen.

After snapping a 24-game losing streak at the China Open last week, Zhang Shuai’s fortunes turned in Wuhan when she lost 6-4, 6-4 in the first round to Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan.

The eight top seeds, including Sabalenka and China Open winner Coco Gauff, received a bye in the first round.

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