Djokovic punishes American, Federer defeats Goffin
■ Djokovic punishes American, Federer defeats Goffin
Shanghai, Oct. 10: Roger Federer said that his devoted band of Chinese supporters helped pull him through a tough first set and into the Shanghai Masters quarter-finals on Thursday.
The Swiss defeated David Goffin 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 after the 13th seed from Belgium squandered five set points in the first set. The 38-year-old Federer plays either Germany’s Alexander Zverev or Andrey Rublev of Russia in the last eight.
World number one Novak Djokovic made light work of American John Isner and plays promising 21-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in the last eight.
The defending champion from Serbia dismissed the 16th seed Isner 7-5, 6-3 in 74 minutes after taming Isner’s booming serve.
“It’s always a big challenge returning the serve of Isner,” said Djokovic, who is over the shoulder problem that curtailed his US Open defence.
“He’s got one of the biggest serves of all time, he’s one of the tallest guys ever to play tennis.”
The 32-year-old Djokovic is looking imperious, having not dropped a set in claiming the title in Tokyo last week and continuing that perfect record in Shanghai.
Also in the last eight on Friday, colourful Italian Fabio Fognini faces redhot Russian Daniil Medvedev.
The fourth-ranked Medvedev was forced to sweat — and not just because of the Shanghai heat -- after being 5-2 down in the first set to Canadian qualifier Vasek Pospisil.
The 23-year-old Medvedev eventually squeezed through 7-6 (9/7), 7-5. Medvedev has been in eight finals this year, winning three of them. Rafael Nadal is not in Shanghai because of a wrist injury.