ATP Shanghai Masters: Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer advance to quarter-finals

Defending champion Novak Djokovic advanced to the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters, but not before being given a scare by Mikhail Kukushkin.

The top seed required three sets before eventually prevailing 6-3 4-6 6-4, with his Kazak opponent going toe-to-toe for long spells of a high-quality encounter.

The Serb secured the crucial break in the eighth game of the first set before serving out to take the opener in 31 minutes.

But any thoughts of a simple victory were quickly quashed as Kukushkin raced into a 3-0 lead at the start of the second.

Djokovic staved off a set-point on his own serve at 2-5 behind and went on to break his rival in the next as he closed the gap to 4-5.

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However, Kukushkin got the job done in the next as he broke again, a fine forehand winner down the line closing out the set and getting him back on terms.

Too durable

A steely Djokovic proved just too durable in the decider, though, despite Kukushkin producing an array of aggressive and attacking groundstrokes.

The Serb broke in the fifth game for a 3-2 lead and then remained solid on his own delivery to close out victory in a little over two hours – his 27th straight win at the event which he has won for the past two years.

David Ferrer awaits Djokovic, while Roger Federer joined the top seed in the last eight following a far more comfortable victory against Spain’s Roberto Bautista-Agut.

The third-seeded Swiss dropped just six games as he came through 6-4 6-2 and will now face France’s Julien Benneteau in the quarters.

Feliciano Lopez followed up his fine win over Rafael Nadal with another impressive showing, ousting 13th seed John Isner 6-3 6-4, while Mikhail Youzhny had to come from a set behind to beat Juan Monaco 5-7 6-3 6-2.