Novak Djokovic, the four-time Shanghai Masters champion, continued his march towards another title with a resounding victory over Italian Flavio Cobolli on Tuesday. The Serbian star, who has enjoyed a stellar career at the Shanghai Masters, cruised past the 30th-ranked Cobolli in just over an hour, winning 6-1, 6-2. Djokovic, known for his relentless pursuit of excellence, dominated the match from start to finish. He broke Cobolli early in the first set and maintained his relentless pressure, never giving the Italian a chance to settle into the match.
“I can’t complain about anything in the game, I was able to play aggressively,” Djokovic said after the match. He added, “I’m glad to be progressing through a tournament that has meant a lot to me in my career.” Djokovic’s performance was met with roaring applause from the enthusiastic crowd, who waved Serbian flags and screamed in delight. To add to the festive atmosphere, the former world number one wrote part of his name in Chinese characters on a camera lens at the end of the match, further endeared himself to the local fans.
Next up for Djokovic is a challenging match against Russian Roman Safiullin, who pulled off an upset against American Frances Tiafoe in three tough sets. “I’m glad to finally play a match after three days of rain, it’s been a hassle for a lot of players,” Djokovic said, acknowledging the weather disruptions that had affected the tournament. With his win against Cobolli, Djokovic is now one step closer to another Shanghai Masters title and further cementing his legacy in the tournament.
