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Djokovic eases into Shanghai Masters fourth round to face Safiullin who beat Tiafoe

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Djokovic eases into Shanghai Masters fourth round to face Safiullin who beat Tiafoe
Sport

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Djokovic eases into Shanghai Masters fourth round to face Safiullin who beat Tiafoe

2024-10-08 23:13 Last Updated At:23:21

SHANGHAI (AP) — Pursuing a 100th career title, Novak Djokovic had an easier time in his second match at the Shanghai Masters in ousting Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 6-2 on Tuesday.

Djokovic clinched the match with his 19th winner, placing a forehand behind the Italian who was racing back across the baseline after being pushed wide by the service.

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Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a backhand return against Flavio Cobolli of Italy during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a backhand return against Flavio Cobolli of Italy during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a forehand return against Flavio Cobolli of Italy during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a forehand return against Flavio Cobolli of Italy during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Alexander Zverev of Germany reacts during the men's singles third round match against Tallon Griekspoor of Netherlands, in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Alexander Zverev of Germany reacts during the men's singles third round match against Tallon Griekspoor of Netherlands, in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a backhand return against Flavio Cobolli of Italy during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a backhand return against Flavio Cobolli of Italy during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a forehand return against Flavio Cobolli of Italy during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a forehand return against Flavio Cobolli of Italy during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia waves to spectators after defeating Flavio Cobolli of Italy in the men's singles third round match of the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia waves to spectators after defeating Flavio Cobolli of Italy in the men's singles third round match of the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Ugo Humbert of France plays a backhand return against his compatriot Gael Monfils during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Ugo Humbert of France plays a backhand return against his compatriot Gael Monfils during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Gael Monfils of France plays a forehand return against his compatriot Ugo Humbert during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Gael Monfils of France plays a forehand return against his compatriot Ugo Humbert during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Gael Monfils of France serves against his compatriot Ugo Humbert during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Gael Monfils of France serves against his compatriot Ugo Humbert during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Taylor Fritz of the United States plays a backhand return against Yosuke Watanuki of Japan during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Taylor Fritz of the United States plays a backhand return against Yosuke Watanuki of Japan during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece plays a backhand return against Alexandre Muller of France during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece plays a backhand return against Alexandre Muller of France during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece plays a backhand return against Alexandre Muller of France during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece plays a backhand return against Alexandre Muller of France during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece reacts during the men's singles third round match against Alexandre Muller of France, in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece reacts during the men's singles third round match against Alexandre Muller of France, in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

The fourth-seeded Serb did not allow a break point in the third round, after previously being stretched to two tiebreakers and saving set points against Alex Michelsen of the United States.

“Cobolli was evidently exhausted after last night’s match," Djokovic said of his opponent, who had advanced by beating three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka. “I think that has taken a toll, physically, on him today.”

Djokovic, who has won four of his 99 titles in Shanghai, next faces 61st-ranked Roman Safiullin who upset Frances Tiafoe 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (5).

Tiafoe congratulated Safiullin then walked off the court aiming expletives at the umpire, who had called a time violation minutes earlier on the 13th-seeded American's service. Tiafoe had tossed the ball in the air though it was unclear if it was an attempt to serve.

Later Tuesday, third-ranked Alexander Zverev also used expletives in an exchange with the umpire. A double bounce of the ball was correctly called when Zverev stretched to play a shot approaching the net.

Zverev converted his eighth match point to beat Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (6), 2-6, 7-6 (5).

Stefanos Tsitsipas' rivalry with Daniil Medvedev will add another chapter after the Greek player beat Alexandre Muller 6-3, 7-5.

The 12th-ranked Tsitsipas and the Russian former U.S. Open champion will meet for a 14th time, and first in nearly a year. The fifth-ranked Medvedev has a commanding 9-4 lead in the head-to-head series, which has spilled over into a war of words off the court in the past.

“We’ve had some heated things on the court in the past, but I think those things have resolved themselves over time,” Tsitsipas said.

Tsitsipas had to wait out a two-day rain delay to play his third-round match against Muller, but looked in complete control until losing his serve at 5-3 in the second set. Unperturbed, the Greek broke back to love to clinch the match and renew his six-year rivalry with Medvedev.

No. 16-ranked Ben Shelton put away Roberto Carballes Baena 6-3, 6-4, firing eight aces and 24 winners to line up top seed Jannik Sinner in the fourth round.

Seventh-ranked Taylor Fritz also advanced with ease, beating Japan's Yosuke Watanuki 6-3, 6-4, while Grigor Dimitrov, playing in his 100th Masters event, beat Alexei Popyrin 7-6 (5), 6-3.

Gael Monfils upset 15th-ranked Ugo Humbert 7-6 (7), 2-6, 6-1 in an all-French matchup. The 38-year-old Monfils, ranked 46th, is the second oldest player to reach the Shanghai fourth round in Shanghai, behind only Roger Federer (also 38) in 2019.

“It’s never easy to play Ugo, he’s really aggressive, playing fast off both wings and takes a lot of time from you,” said Monfils, who plays second-ranked Carlos Alcaraz next.

Also, Tomas Machac, who made the semifinals in Tokyo, eased past Australian Alexander Vukic 6-4, 6-2 and next faces No. 13-ranked Tommy Paul in the third round.

Katerina Siniakova had a comfortable 6-3, 6-1 victory over Alexandra Eala of the Philippines to set up a second-round match against defending champion Aryna Sabalenka.

Second-ranked Sabalenka, who won the title the last time it was played in 2019, needs only to make the quarterfinals at Wuhan to regain top spot in the rankings from Iga Swiatek, who withdrew from the women’s Asian swing citing fatigue and personal reasons. Swiatek recently split with coach Tomasz Wiktorowski.

Magda Linette of Poland routed No. 23-ranked Liudmila Samsonova 6-2, 6-2, and Ekaterina Alexandrova beat former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin of the U.S. 6-1, 4-6, 6-4.

Other winners included Britain’s Katie Boulter, American Amanda Anisimova, Bulgaria's Viktoriya Tomova and Romania's Jaqueline Cristian, who has Paris Olympics gold medalist Zheng Qinwen next,

After snapping a 24-match losing streak at the China Open last week, Zhang Shuai’s change of fortune turned in Wuhan as she lost to Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan 6-4, 6-4 in the first round.

The top eight seeds, including Sabalenka and China Open champion Coco Gauff, received a first-round bye.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a backhand return against Flavio Cobolli of Italy during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a backhand return against Flavio Cobolli of Italy during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a forehand return against Flavio Cobolli of Italy during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a forehand return against Flavio Cobolli of Italy during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Alexander Zverev of Germany reacts during the men's singles third round match against Tallon Griekspoor of Netherlands, in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Alexander Zverev of Germany reacts during the men's singles third round match against Tallon Griekspoor of Netherlands, in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a backhand return against Flavio Cobolli of Italy during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a backhand return against Flavio Cobolli of Italy during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a forehand return against Flavio Cobolli of Italy during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a forehand return against Flavio Cobolli of Italy during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia waves to spectators after defeating Flavio Cobolli of Italy in the men's singles third round match of the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Novak Djokovic of Serbia waves to spectators after defeating Flavio Cobolli of Italy in the men's singles third round match of the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Ugo Humbert of France plays a backhand return against his compatriot Gael Monfils during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Ugo Humbert of France plays a backhand return against his compatriot Gael Monfils during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Gael Monfils of France plays a forehand return against his compatriot Ugo Humbert during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Gael Monfils of France plays a forehand return against his compatriot Ugo Humbert during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Gael Monfils of France serves against his compatriot Ugo Humbert during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Gael Monfils of France serves against his compatriot Ugo Humbert during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Taylor Fritz of the United States plays a backhand return against Yosuke Watanuki of Japan during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Taylor Fritz of the United States plays a backhand return against Yosuke Watanuki of Japan during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece plays a backhand return against Alexandre Muller of France during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece plays a backhand return against Alexandre Muller of France during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece plays a backhand return against Alexandre Muller of France during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece plays a backhand return against Alexandre Muller of France during the men's singles third round match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece reacts during the men's singles third round match against Alexandre Muller of France, in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece reacts during the men's singles third round match against Alexandre Muller of France, in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said Wednesday he is “optimistic” about President-elect Donald Trump’s second term and expressed some excitement about potential regulatory cutbacks in the coming years.

“I’m actually very optimistic this time around,” Bezos said on stage during a wide-ranging interview at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit in New York. “He seems to have a lot of energy around reducing regulation. If I can help do that, I’m going to help him."

“We do have too many regulations in this country,” Bezos added.

The comments follow Bezos' October decision to prohibit The Washington Post, which he owns, from endorsing a presidential candidate, a move that led to tens of thousands of people canceling their subscriptions and protests from journalists with a deep history at the newspaper.

At the time, Bezos wrote in an op-ed in the newspaper saying editorial endorsements create a perception of bias at a time when many Americans don’t believe the media, and do nothing to tip the scales of an election.

On Wednesday, he said he would try to talk Trump "out of the idea” that the press is the enemy.

“You’ve probably grown in the last eight years,” he said to journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin. “He has, too. This is not the case. The press is not the enemy.”

Trump had railed against Bezos and his companies, including Amazon and The Washington Post, during his first term. In 2019, Amazon argued in a court case that Trump’s bias against the company harmed its chances of winning a $10 billion Pentagon contract. The Biden administration later pursued a contract with both Amazon and Microsoft.

In another part of the interview, Bezos said he doesn't expect Elon Musk, who has been tasked with cutting regulations in the upcoming Trump term, to use his power to hurt his business competitors. Bezos owns Blue Origin, a rival to Musk's SpaceX.

FILE - Then Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos speaks at the the Amazon re:MARS convention on June 6, 2019, in Las Vegas. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 that he is “optimistic” about President-elect Donald Trump’s second term and expressed some excitement about potential regulatory cutbacks in the coming years. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

FILE - Then Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos speaks at the the Amazon re:MARS convention on June 6, 2019, in Las Vegas. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 that he is “optimistic” about President-elect Donald Trump’s second term and expressed some excitement about potential regulatory cutbacks in the coming years. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

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