Four-time champion Novak Djokovic beat Roman Safiulin 6-3 6-2 to reach the quarter final at the Shanghai Rolex Masters for the 10th time in his career.
If Djokovic wins his fifth title in Shanghai, he would become the third player in the Open Era to win a 100th ATP Tour title following Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer.
Djokovic saved 100% of the break points he faced to improve to 3-0 in his head-to-head series against Safiulin.
Safiulin saved a break point in the second game of the first set with an inside-out forehand winner, but he was not able to convert the two break points he earned in the fifth game. Djokovic earned his first break at 15 in the eighth game and served it out on his first set point.
Djokovic broke twice in the first and fifth games and served out the win on his second match point. The reigning Olympic champion improved his record to 35-8 this season.
Djokovic has spent just two hours and 15 minutes on court since his first match against Alex Michelsen, where the Serbian player achieved a 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-3) win.
Djokovic is currently ranked eighth in the ATP Live Race to Turin. He would boost his chance to qualify for the ATP Finals with a strong run in Shanghai. “Both last night’s match and tonight have been some of the best matches I have played in a while, so I am just enjoying myself on the court. When you play well and feel good, there is obviously a lot of joy in striking a tennis ball on the court. These sensations I have on the tennis court are some of the reasons why I keep on playing and keep on competing because I really believe that I can play at a very high level. Now, it’s a matter of keeping that consistency and having good time off the court”, said Djokovic.
