Sinner breezes past Altmaier, Zverev defies toe trouble to beat Royer

World number two Jannik Sinner launched his Shanghai Masters title defence Saturday by breezing past Germany’s Daniel Altmaier 6-3, 6-3 while Alexander Zverev advanced despite toe trouble.

Sinner, fresh from winning the China Open, broke early in both sets to take control and ease himself comfortably into the third round.

The 49th-ranked Altmaier’s best chance came in the eighth game of the first set, but he failed to convert a breakpoint twice, allowing the Italian to hold with an ace.

The second set provided even less opportunity to seriously bother the 24-year-old Wimbledon champion, but afterwards Sinner said it had been more difficult than it looked.

“First match is never easy, especially when you don’t have a lot of time to adjust,” he said.

Sinner’s path to retaining the title has been made easier by the withdrawal of great rival Carlos Alcaraz, who dropped out last minute to rest.

The tournament lost another top-10 player as Karen Khachanov was defeated by China’s Shang Juncheng 7-6 (7/3), 6-3. World number three Zverev overcame an injury to his big toe to book his place in the third round, beating France’s Valentin Royer 6-4, 6-4. Russian Andrey Rublev, ranked 14th, was upset by qualifier Yoshihito Nishioka 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.

But compatriot Daniil Medvedev dominated qualifier Dalibor Svrcina to advance 6-1, 6-1.

Anisimova ousts Gauff: US Open runner-up Amanda Anisimova outclassed defending champion Coco Gauff 6-1 6-2, and Linda Noskova stunned Jessica Pegula 6-3 1-6 7-6(6) on Saturday to reach the China Open final.

Seeded third, Anisimova continued her stellar season, which included a runner-up finish at Wimbledon, and the win gave the 24-year-old American a 2-1 edge in her head-to-head record against compatriot Gauff.

Anisimova bludgeoned her way to a 5-0 advantage in the opening set before second seed Gauff got on the board. The second set unfolded in a similar fashion, with Anisimova building a commanding 5-0 lead. Although Gauff fought back to win the next two games, Anisimova sealed victory in 58 minutes.

NOSKOVA PREVAILS over PEGULA: Czech Republic’s Noskova won a two-and-a-half hour battle against former US Open finalist Pegula to reach her first WTA 1000 final.

Noskova, 20, landed four aces and frustrated the world number seven with her shots from tight angles to win the first set 6-3.

Pegula bounced back to dominate the second, having success with shots down the middle, as Noskova succumbed to a 6-1 loss in less than half an hour.

The third set tested both players in an 84-minute battle of grit as neither could hold serve in the first four games. Pegula earned a break to go 6-5 up and serve for the match, but Noskova saved three match points to force a tiebreak.

The American quickly went 3-1 up, but made two unforced errors that let Noskova back in and she fell to her knees after Pegula’s backhand return landed wide to ending the gruelling match.

Agencies