World number one Novak Djokovic and rival Andy Murray intensified their battle for the top ranking spot yesterday as the leading seeds both motored into the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters. Djokovic eased through 6-4, 6-4 as he ended the minor winning streak of qualifier Vasek Pospisil.
Second seed Murray beat French hopeful Lucas Pouille 6-1, 6-3, without facing a break point in the 78 minutes. “The start was pretty tight, but it was a good start from both of us. Then maybe he started rushing a little bit in the next couple of games, and the first set was pretty much gone,” Murray said.
“In the second he changed it up, he was serve and volleying a bit. He tried a lot of different things today, but I came up with some good shots.”
Third seed Stan Wawrinka was eliminated by Gilles Simon 6-4, 6-4 while Belgian David Goffin beat Gael Monfils 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. Djokovic, a 12-time grand slam winner, is working to hold off a charge in the points chase from Murray, who is within striking distance of the top year-end ranking held by the Serb.
Djokovic’s bid for a fourth Shanghai title comes as he plays for the first time in a month after losing the US Open final to Wawrinka.
The Serb sent Pospisil to his 23rd defeat of the season against just 10 wins — two of those picked up this week in China.
Pospisil had not won two consecutive main-draw matches for a year previously. Djokovic has not lost to the number 131 in four meetings, with the top seed improving his record for the season to 58-6 with seven titles. “I thought it was a great quality of tennis today from both players,” Djokovic said.
 “I was very pleased with the way I played from the first to last point. I don’t think I dropped my level at all. Vasek was serving very well, it was really hard to read his serve. But just when I needed to read his serve and play well, I did. It was enough: one break in both sets.”
Jack Sock reversed a run of eight consecutive losses to Milos Raonic, with the American saving two match points as he rallied to secure a 0-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10-8) knockout of the fifth seed.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had to fight to salvage a place in the quarter-finals as the ninth seed held off teenaged Alexander Zverev for a 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 7-5 comeback win.
The Frenchman, who has been dealing with a knee injury, advanced in two and a half hours with 11 aces and five breaks of his fast-rising 19-year-old German opponent, who led 4-1 in the third set. His win denied a victory sweep by Zverev and elder brother Mischa, the first qualifier into a Masters 1000 last-eight place this season by defeating Marcel Granollers 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-1.
Mischa Zverev, 29, was playing after qualifying for the ninth time this season. Alexander Zverev won the St Petersburg title recently, becoming the first teenager to win an ATP trophy since 2008.
Tsonga saved his afternoon as he broke for 6-5 in the final set, leaving Zverev with a smashed racquet and a smouldering temper. The teenager made a huge effort in the next game, but the experienced Tsonga was able to save three break points and wrap up his great escape on a first match point.
Tsonga had to quit with a knee problem in his US Open match against Djokovic and is playing his only week in Asia after missing Chengdu and Beijing along with a home event last month in Metz.

Results
(x denotes seeding):
Men’s singles third round: Mischa Zverev (GER) bt Marcel Granollers (ESP) 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 6-1; Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x9) bt Alexander Zverev (GER) 6-7 (4/7), 6-2, 7-5; Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) bt Vasek Pospisil (CAN) 6-4, 6-4; Jack Sock (USA) bt Milos Raonic (CAN x5) 0-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10/8); Andy Murray (GBR x2) bt Lucas Pouille (FRA x13) 6-1, 6-3; Roberto Bautista (ESP x15) bt Viktor Troicki (SRB) 6-3, 6-3; David Goffin (BEL x11) bt Gael Monfils (FRA x6) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2; Gilles Simon (FRA) bt Stan Wawrinka (SUI x3) 6-4, 6-4