Big-serving Alexander Zverev trounced home hopeful Shang Juncheng 6-0, 6-3 at the China Open on Saturday to set up a quarterfinal clash with Novak Djokovic.
The German top seed needed just 55 minutes to brush aside the Chinese wildcard, ranked 250th, firing nine aces along the way.
‘Happy with the win,’ the world’s second-ranked player said, adding that his 21-year-old opponent had been ‘dangerous’ and had ‘nothing to lose.’
‘Looking forward to the next couple of weeks,’ Zverev said ahead of his tie with Djokovic – who has never lost a match in Beijing – on Sunday.
Zverev’s cruise into the next round comes as he trains his sights on the number-one spot currently held by Jannik Sinner.
The Italian won in Beijing last year but is not there this time around. He said on Saturday that he would not play at next week’s Shanghai Masters either.
‘I think it’s no secret that it’s a goal, for sure,’ Zverev told reporters when asked about the battle for No. 1.
‘I know what I’m playing for. I know I’m very, very motivated to play at the moment. But again, I have a tough challenge tomorrow, and that’s my focus,’ he said.