Novak Djokovic opened his quest for a title of Masters Rolex Shanghai Rolex Shanghai Friday with a 7-6 victory (2), 6-4 against Marin Cilic.
With the victory in an hour and 55 minutes, the fourth seeded Serbian improved its career record at 40-6 during the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in China. It also improved at 20-2 against Cilic de Croatia.
Djokovic pulled 10 AS, saved the four breaking points and finished with 21 winners and only four unl forced errors. He converted the only service break in the third game in the second set.
With their ages 79 years and 139 days, the duel between Djokovic and Cilic marked the oldest meeting of the main drawing of men at ATP Masters 1000 level since 1990.
“Tons of respect for sailor, everything he has accomplished and who he is as a person,” said Djokovic. “We get along very well in the field, we have known each other for many years. The last time we played was three years ago, so it’s great to see him play at this level.”
Djokovic has become the first man to record 40 or more victories or more different events from ATP Masters 1000 since the format was introduced in 1990: Rome (68), Indian Wells (51), Paris (50), Miami (49), Cincinnati (45) and Shanghai (40).
The third round opponent of the Grand Chelem 24 times will be the German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann, who has turned the head of the seed n ° 25 France Tiafoe 6-7 (9), 6-2, 6-1 in two hours and 51 minutes.
Tiafoe was not the only seed player shown the door in the second round. David Goffin in Belgium dumped the seeded n ° 6 Ben Shelton 6-2, 6-4 and the compatriot Zizou Bergs beat N ° 11 Casper Ruud de Norway 3-6, 7-5, 4-1. The Valentin Vacherot of Monaco eliminated the n ° 14 Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. The Jaume Munar of Spain released n ° 22 Flavio Cobolli from Italy 7-5, 6-1.
Shelton played for the first time since the substance of a left shoulder injury to the US Open in August.
Taylor Fritz n ° 5 joined for a 2-6, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (1) victory against Fabian Marozsan of Hungary and the Holger n ° 10 Rune of Denmark was a winner 7-5, 6-4 against Argentina Sebastian Baez.
The other seeds in complete safety until the third round were the n ° 19 Francisco Cerundolo d’Argentine, n ° 20 Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic, n ° 21 Ugo Humbert de France, n ° 27 Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands, Perricard de France.
– field level media
