Shanghai Open: Novak Djokovic

“I do like it, but I’ve also suffered a lot on the court,” Djokovic said.

“It’s a very close game. He’s probably the better player in the first set and he didn’t give me time to breathe.

“I think I dug up the trouble with a good share, which obviously makes me happy.”

Djokovic will face the masterful German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann in the third round.

The sixth seed Ben Shelton looked rusty when David Goffin of Belgium lost 6-2 6-4.

The 22-year-old American recovered from a shoulder injury and recovered at the U.S. Open, trying to find his rhythm in the first set and lost his serve in the third and seventh games.

Sheldon fought back in Game 2 but encountered an unforced mistake in Game 9, giving Goffin an edge, while the 83rd World Ranking ended.

Goffin’s reward was the third round against Canada’s Gabriel Diallo, who was seeded 31.

World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the Shanghai Open earlier this week, with the Spaniard citing “some physical problems” after winning the Japanese Open.