While the score sheet showed a straight-set win to Carlos Alcaraz at the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Monday, it perhaps didn't quite reflect the work that the No.1 seed needed to edge past the crafty Dan Evans.
Alcaraz had to work his way back from service breaks in both sets of their third-round encounter before emerging with a 7-6(1) 6-4 win.
"It was one of the toughest matches that I've played this year, outside the Grand Slams," said Alcaraz, who was also pushed by Evans in a fourth-set encounter at the recent US Open.
"I had to adapt my game a little bit. He was more aggressive probably than the other matches … I had to stay mentally (and physically) strong."
The Spaniard also required patience as Evans executed his trademark shot-making with potentially devastating effect.
After breaking from a 1-4 lead early in their Qi Zhong Stadium encounter, a turning point for the No.30 seed might have been the six break points he saved to consolidate in the next game.
Alcaraz, however, is far too sturdy a competitor to wilt. He persisted to gain the break back in Evans' next service game and when the set progressed to a tiebreak, the No.1 seed gained full control.
His recovery from a service break in early in the second set was immediate, with Alcaraz gaining another in the 10th game to secure victory in just under two-and-a-half hours.
It sets a meeting with No.18 seed Grigor Dimitrov, who outclassed Karen Khachanov earlier in the day.
"He's a really talented player," Alcaraz noted of the Bulgarian, who he will face for a fourth time in his career. "He kind of gives you a lot of shots on the court, so it's going to be a little bit tricky for me."
Ugo Humbert completed play with an upset of Stefanos Tsitsipas, with the tricky left-hander eliminating the No.5 seed in three sets.
"I'm so happy. It's a big win against Tsitsipas, a top-10 player," said Humbert, the No.32 seed. "I felt a lot of confidence on court and I'm very proud that I won this match."
A comeback always seemed possible for Tsitsipas, who was a semifinalist in Shanghai in 2019. He recovered from a dropped first set to force a decider, where he also fought his way back from 2-4 down.
But he ultimately couldn't withstand 32 winners from the Frenchman, including the cross-court backhand that brought up match point.
Humbert converted to secure his 6-4 3-6 7-5 I two hours and 11 minutes, setting set a fourth-round match with J.J Wolfe.
The 24-year-old Wolfe advanced after a monumental battle, with victory over Matteo Arnaldi requiring two hours and 43 minutes on court.
The 2-6 6-3 7-6(4) win helped atone for Wolf's first-round loss to the Italian in the first round of Beijing.
"It was such a battle, he's a really talented player as I saw last week, he smacked me around pretty good but I'm proud of myself," said Wolf. "I think I had more heart this match."
