In a commanding performance at the Shanghai Masters on Tuesday, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic surged into the men’s singles fourth round by defeating Italy’s Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 6-2.
Djokovic, the No. 4 seed, showcased his dominance from the outset, leveraging powerful baseline exchanges and precise shots from both wings to secure an early lead in the opening set. His confident play left Cobolli struggling to keep pace as Djokovic wrapped up the first set swiftly.
Emboldened by his strong start, Djokovic intensified his pressure in the second set. Although Cobolli managed to hold serve twice, he couldn’t withstand Djokovic’s relentless aggression. Breaking serve in the fifth game, Djokovic maintained his momentum and cruised to victory.
“It was a great level of tennis from me from the beginning,” Djokovic reflected after the match. “I had a clear game plan of what I needed to do and how to execute it.” He acknowledged that Cobolli’s lengthy match the previous night may have impacted the Italian’s physical condition.
Looking ahead, Djokovic is set to face Russia’s Roman Safiullin in the fourth round. “I’ve played him a couple of times before, so I know his quality,” Djokovic noted. “He loves to play fast, take the ball on the rise, so I have to be very sharp for that one.”
Djokovic’s advance reinforces his status as a formidable contender in the tournament, as he continues his pursuit of another Masters title in Shanghai.
Reference(s):
Djokovic defeats Cobolli, into Shanghai Masters fourth round
cgtn.com
