Third-round motion on the Rolex Shanghai Masters continues on Tuesday because the occasion tries to get again on schedule following all types of rain. Novak Djokovic and Grigor Dimitrov are amongst these taking the court docket.
Listed below are my picks for 2 of Tuesday’s greatest matchups.
(28) Flavio Cobolli vs. (4) Novak Djokovic
Not together with a lower-level Davis Cup tie, Djokovic is taking part in for the primary time since shedding to Alexei Popyrin in spherical three of the U.S. Open. How motivated is the 37-year-old Serb for the stretch run of the season? That is still to be seen. Regardless of the case, he typically performs properly in Asia whatever the circumstances. Djokovic is the all-time chief in in Shanghai titles with 4 and his bid for No. 5 started with a two-tiebreaker win over Alex Michelsen on Friday.
Up subsequent for the Paris Olympics gold medalist is Cobolli, whom he has by no means confronted. The 22-year-old has been one of many ATP Tour’s breakout stars this season, incomes 34 of his 40 main-tour victories. Second-round competitors in Shanghai concluded on Monday evening with Cobolli’s 6-7(6), 7-6(4), 6-3 defeat of Stan Wawrinka. That was a bodily wrestle, which doesn’t bode properly for the Italian’s already slim possibilities towards Djokovic.
Decide: Djokovic in 2
(20) Alexei Popyrin vs. (9) Grigor Dimitrov
Popyrin’s hard-court summer season not solely included an upset of Djokovic in New York but additionally a stunning Masters 1000 title in Montreal. The Australian remained in fantastic type with a 6-3, 6-2 rout of Miomir Kecmanovic on Saturday. He now runs into Dimitrov for the fourth time on Tuesday, with Popyrin main the head-to-head collection 2-1 because of beating the Bulgarian en path to his Montreal triumph.
Dimitrov has been stellar this season as properly, however he has performed plenty of tennis and the veteran seems to be considerably hampered by a hamstring difficulty. The No. 9 managed to get previous Zizou Bergs 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 on Monday, however Popyrin presents an excellent more durable check.
Decide: Popyrin in 3
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and in addition maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You may observe him on Twitter at @Dimonator.
