NOVAK DJOKOVIC produced a clinical display to beat Flavio Cobolli in the third round of the Shanghai Masters today.

The four-time champion needed only 64 minutes to dispatch Italian Cobolli 6-1 6-2 and set up a fourth-round meeting with Russia’s Roman Safiullin.

Djokovic, playing his first ATP Tour event since the US Open, had looked a little rusty in his first match against Alex Michelsen but was sharp from the start here and cruised through.

“From the beginning I had a clear game plan of what I need to do, staying aggressive and [using] every short ball to take the initiative in the point, and I’ve done that,” said Djokovic.

“Cobolli was evidently exhausted after last night’s match. I think that has taken a toll physically on him today.”

Wet weather has badly affected the schedule in Shanghai and Cobolli had come through a two-and-a-half-hour tussle with Stan Wawrinka on Monday.

Safiullin upset 13th seed Frances Tiafoe, who launched an expletive-laden rant at the umpire following his 5-7 7-5 7-6 (5) defeat, having been given a time violation at 5-5 in the deciding tie-break.

Elsewhere there were wins for seventh seed Taylor Fritz, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Ben Shelton, Grigor Dimitrov and Holger Rune, while veteran Gael Monfils upset his French countryman Ugo Humbert 7-6 (7) 2-6 6-1.

Monfils, 38, will next face third seed Carlos Alcaraz, who he defeated in their last meeting in Cincinnati in August – not that he is expecting a repeat.

“I think he will beat me,” said Monfils. “He will crush me 100 per cent.

“Last time I was very fortunate and it was not a good match from him and one of my good matches from me. His level is unbelievable. This kid is something else.”