Novak Djokovic makes honest admission about rival after beating him at Shanghai Masters

Novak Djokovic produced a clinical display to beat Flavio Cobolli in the third round of the Shanghai Masters.

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 use 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."