NO SHANGHAI SWEAT FOR SINNER, ALCARAZ

Both breeze into 3rd round despite minimal practice; Gauff takes on Muchova in decider

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Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz showed why they are the ones to beat at the Shanghai Masters on Oct 5, as they raced into the third round with confident straight-set wins.

Sinner dispatched Japan's Taro Daniel 6-1, 6-4, while earlier in the day Alcaraz made short work of China's Shang Juncheng, winning 6-2, 6-2.

Sinner has said he is not in a "comfortable" situation because of a World Anti-Doping Agency appeal against a decision by tennis authorities to clear him of wrongdoing, after he twice tested positive for a steroid in March.

The world No. 1's recent blistering winning streak was broken by Alcaraz in the China Open final on Oct 2.

But there was no tiredness on display from either player on Oct 5, with 23-year-old Sinner looking completely unruffled in the first set against the 93rd-ranked Daniel.

Daniel fell behind again in the second and despite rallying halfway through to gently test Sinner, the Italian kept his cool, ending the set 6-4.

"I had only one practice session yesterday but I felt very comfortable on the court," he said after the match.