With a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory over Italy’s Flavio Cobolli (ranked No. 30) in the third round of the Shanghai Masters 1000, Novak Djokovic showed that he is back in top form. The Serbian, currently ranked No. 4, needed just over an hour to dispatch his 22-year-old opponent, signaling that his return to the courts after a surprising third-round exit at the US Open is a force to be reckoned with.
Djokovic dominates: a resounding return at the Shanghai Masters
Novak Djokovic, the four-time Shanghai Masters champion and former world No. 1, continues to cement his legacy in tennis.
Djokovic’s performance against Cobolli was nothing short of clinical. He won more than 80% of his service points and did not face a single break point during the match. His 19 winners overwhelmed Cobolli, who only managed six.
Additionally, Djokovic committed just 18 unforced errors, while Cobolli struggled with 26. It was a commanding display from the Serbian, who appeared fresh and in control from the very beginning, exploiting every short ball to maintain his aggressive style of play.
A commanding win
“From the start, I had a clear game plan,” Djokovic said after the match. “I kept myself aggressive and tried to take the initiative on every point.” The physical demands of the match were a factor as well, with Djokovic admitting that Cobolli had to pay “a physical toll” after playing Stan Wawrinka in a grueling earlier round. Cobolli’s fatigue showed, and Djokovic capitalized on the opportunity to push forward with ease.
Having taken some time off since the US Open, Djokovic mentioned that the lack of match play has kept him fresh for this part of the season. “I haven’t played many matches, but that’s the positive side of it—I’m fresh,” he noted. Whether he needs to play daily or go through long matches, Djokovic feels well-prepared to handle the challenges of the Shanghai Masters, as he aims for his 100th career title.
This victory also brought another milestone for Djokovic: he now holds the highest win percentage in Masters 1000 events, surpassing Rafael Nadal. Djokovic’s record stands at an impressive 406-89, compared to Nadal’s 410-90. It’s another achievement that adds to the Serbian’s already illustrious career.
Other matches
In the next round, Djokovic will face Russia’s Roman Safiulin (No. 61), who battled through a three-set thriller against Frances Tiafoe (No. 17), winning 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (7/5). Safiulin’s performance indicates a tough challenge ahead, but Djokovic’s form suggests he will be ready.
Meanwhile, other high-profile players in the tournament are also advancing. Grigor Dimitrov (No. 10), Stefanos Tsitsipas (No. 12), Taylor Fritz (No. 7), Ben Shelton (No. 16), and Holger Rune (No. 14) all made it through to the round of 16. These top-seeded players now face significant challenges. Shelton will take on world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, while Tsitsipas faces off against Daniil Medvedev (No. 5).
Fritz is set to play Rune in what promises to be a thrilling match, and Carlos Alcaraz (No. 2) will meet the veteran Frenchman Gael Monfils (No. 46), who recently defeated compatriot Ugo Humbert in a hard-fought three-set match.
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