Djokovic edges ahead of Sinner in Shanghai Masters betting

Novak Djokovic produced one of his most clinical performances of the season at the Shanghai Masters in China on Tuesday, thrashing No.28 seed Flavio Cobolli and improving his title odds.

The Serbian edges ahead of world No.1 Jannik Sinner in bet365’s odds to win the Masters 1000 event, paying $3.60, while the Italian trails at $4 to win his seventh title of the season.

Carlos Alcaraz remains the favourite to lift the trophy in Shanghai, paying $2.60 to win his second title in Asia this year.

“Great level of tennis from me from the beginning,” Djokovic said, after his 6-1, 6-2 victory over Cobolli.

“I had a clear game plan on what I needed to do and how to execute it.”

The 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic has had a lacklustre year, failing to win any ATP events and suffering several uncharacteristic losses. However, he made no mistake against the up-and-coming Cobolli on Tuesday, dispatching the 22-year-old in just over an hour.

He was particularly clinical on return, winning 43% of the Italian’s first-serve points and 70% of his second serves, breaking him four times from seven return games. Djokovic was equally strong behind his own serve, dropping just seven points on serve the entire match.

“I think I was really solid from the back of the court, always trying to dictate the play,” Djokovic explained. “All in all, a great two sets.”

The four-time Shanghai Masters winner will now face Russia’s Roman Safiullin in the round of 16, after the world No.61 upset Frances Tiafoe 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (5) in the third round.

Tennis betting sites have Djokovic as a $1.10 favorite to defeat Safiullin and reach the Shanghai quarter-finals.

Other top-10 seeds also won on Tuesday, with Alexander Zverev edging out Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (6), 2-6, 7-6 (5), Taylor Fritz cruising past Yosuke Watanuki 6-3, 6-4, and Stefanos Tsitsipas defeating Alexandre Muller 6-3, 7-5.

The campaigns of both remaining Australians ended in Shanghai, however, with Alexei Popyrin falling in straight sets to Grigor Dimitrov, 7-6 (5), 6-2, and Aleksandar Vukic losing 6-4, 6-2 to Tomas Machac.

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