WORLD number one Jannik Sinner shook off early resistance from Argentinian Tomas Etcheverry to book his place in the Shanghai Masters ATP 1000 fourth round. The Italian lost the first set in a tiebreaker before getting up in three set, 6-7 6-4 6-2 in two hours and 39 minutes.

It was just the second time the pair had faced off in an ATP Tour match, and Sinner repeated the dose from his earlier victory over the South American with a hard-fought grinding victory that he felt proud of by the end.

“It was a very tough match, physically [and] mentally, so I am very happy to get through this one,” Sinner said post-match. “I felt like it was a tough set that I lost. I had my chances [to win the set], but these things can happen.

“Sometimes you have to wait for your chances, which I have done, trying to stay calm mentally, and today that was the key.”

Sinner is searching for an incredible seventh ATP Tour title in 2024, narrowly denied that feat in Beijing, but is now just four win away from the trophy. By reaching the fourth round, the Italian has matched his 2023 effort in the Chinese city, and could play the same player who he lost to last year in 14th seed Ben Shelton. The American faces Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena later today rain permitting.

Sinner and Etcheverry were even across the board for their first serve work, with Sinner producing 12 winners with a 78 per cent success rate, while Etcheverry won 84 per cent of his points including 11 aces. However the Argentinian did struggle in getting his first serve in, running at a 52 per cent clip, while Sinner went at 70 per cent.

The Italian world number one also had 13 break point chances, converting four of them, while Etcheverry could only convert one of his five chances in the match. In total, Sinner won 16 more total points (101-85) highlighted by a service record of 71 to 62 per cent.

China Open champion Carlos Alcaraz also had a tougher than expected challenge in the Round of 32, overcoming Chinese wildcard Yibing Wu in an hour and 40 minutes, 7-6 6-3. Russian Daniil Medvedev and American Tommy Paul also came back from a set down and took almost an identical time to do so.

Medvedev defeated Italian Matteo Arnaldi 5-7 6-4 6-4 in two hours and 44 minutes, while Paul was down 6-7 1-5 before stunningly coming back to get up 6-7 7-6 6-2. Two points away from losing 7-6 6-1 at deuce on his serve, Paul fought back to get over the top of Chilean Alejandro Tabilo and advance to the fourth round.