Djokovic barrels into Shanghai third round
Sabalenka powers past Kenin in Tianjin
SHANGHAI, Oct 9, (Agencies): Imperious Novak Djokovic declared that he was “a completely different player” from the first half of this year after he beat France’s Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 7-5 to roll into the Shanghai Masters third round on Tuesday.
The rejuvenated Serbian second seed has now won all 12 matches against Chardy and this victory was never in doubt.
The 31-year-old Djokovic had to contend with a more stubborn Chardy
A press conference for the Argentine on Tuesday was cancelled at the last moment, however, which suggests that he could still be unwell.
Austria’s Dominic Thiem became the biggest casualty so far when the sixth seed was stunned by Matthew Ebden in a thrilling three-set contest.
The Australian finally emerged 6-4, 6-7 (8/10), 7-6 (7/4) for the biggest scalp of his career.
Meanwhile, in Tianjin, fourth seed Aryna Sabalenka took down American Sofia Kenin 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-0 in the first round of the Tianjin Open on Tuesday, as the Belarusian maintains her slim hopes to secure a spot at this month’s WTA Finals.
Every win in the WTA international tournament counts for Sabalenka, who along with Karolina Pliskova, Sloane Stephens, Elina Svitolina and Kiki Bertens, is fighting for the three available spots left for the season-ending event in Singapore.
Wuhan Open winner Sabalenka, currently 10th in the Race to Singapore leaderboard, must win in Tianjin this week, and also needs help from other results from Pliskova and Bertens to keep her qualifying bid alive.
Sabalenka recovered from an early break down in the opening set and saved three break points at 5-5 before winning the tiebreak.
A lapse in concentration cost Sabalenka the second set, but she roared back in style to drop only four points in the final five games of the match.
The 20-year-old is up against Poland’s Magda Linette in the second round, who collected a win over Evgeniya Rodina in three sets on Monday.