Djokovic “close to 10 out of 10” in easy win over Safiullin to make quarter-finals in Shanghai

Serb Novak Djokovic, the No 4 seed, produced another impressive performance as he beat Russian Roman Safiullin 6-3, 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters at the Qi Zhong Tennis Center on Wednesday.

Djokovic, ranked No 4, will face Jakub Mensik next. It’s the 1oth time that Djokovic has made the quarter-finals in Shanghai in his career.

Djokovic rated his performance as “very close to 10”. “I think both last night’s match and tonight have been maybe some of the best matches I’ve played in a while,” he said. “Just enjoying myself on the court.” 

Ahead of his victory, the 37-year-old Serb beat American Alex Michelsen (7-6 (3), 7-6 (9)) and Italian Flavio Cobolli, the No 28 seed (6-1, 6-2).

Safiullin, ranked No 61, won against Kazakh qualifier Beibit Zhukayev (7-6, 6-4), Kazakh Alexander Bublik, the No 23 seed (6-4, 6-2) and American Frances Tiafoe, the No 13 seed (5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (5)) in the previous rounds of the Shanghai tournament.

Shanghai Masters 1000, other last 16 results (Qi Zhong Tennis Center, hard, USD 8.995.555, most recent results first):

• Taylor Fritz vs. Holger Rune
• David Goffin vs. Alexander Zverev
• Jakub Mensik beat Grigor Dimitrov (9): 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
• Tomas Machac (30) beat Tommy Paul (11): 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
• Carlos Alcaraz (3) beat Gael Monfils: 6-4, 7-5
• Daniil Medvedev (5) beat Stefanos Tsitsipas (10): 7-6 (3), 6-3
• Jannik Sinner (1) beat Ben Shelton (14): 6-4, 7-6 (1)