World number one Jannik Sinner recovered from a set down to claim a hard-fought victory against Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the third round of the Shanghai Masters.
The Italian top seed was pushed all the way before winning 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 6-2 in two hours 38 minutes.
In the decider, Sinner held on to his serve in an 11-minute sixth game to go 4-2 up, before winning the next two games to close out the win.
“It got stressful because if I lose the game at 3-2 and he makes the break then we are back even,” said Sinner.
“Sometimes you have to wait for your chances, which I have done, while trying to stay calm mentally, and today that was the key.”
Sinner has won six titles this year, including two Grand Slams, but is playing amid the World Anti-Doping Agency appealing against the decision to clear him of blame after he twice tested positive for a banned substance.
He failed to take two break points when leading 6-5 in the first set before his Argentine opponent, who was impressing with his big serving and powerful game, won the tie-break.
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Sinner took the fifth game of the second on Etcheverry’s serve with a fizzing forehand down the line, only for the world number 37 to respond by breaking straight back with an equally fine crosscourt forehand.
The Italian secured a second successive break and comfortably served out for the set to level the match, before grinding out the deciding set to reach the last 16, where he will play either Roberto Carballes Baena, of Spain, or American Ben Shelton.
“It was a very tough match physically, but also mentally so I am very happy that I have been through this one and let’s see what is coming,” added Sinner.
Daniil Medvedev also made it through, battling to a 5-7 6-4 6-4 victory against Matteo Arnaldi in two hours 44 minutes.
Medvedev achieved the decisive break in the ninth game of the deciding set before going on to serve out for the match and will play either Stefanos Tsitsipas or Alexandre Muller in the last 16.
“It was a very tough match, a very close one,” said Medvedev. “I actually felt like that’s where tennis is funny. I felt like in the first set, I was probably the better player, had more opportunities. I didn’t manage to [win] it, played a bad game at the end of the set.
“In the other sets, I thought it was closer, maybe even he had the edge on some of the moments. But, that’s why tennis is crazy, you can win when you don’t expect it, and lose when you expect to win, so I’m happy to be here again in two days.”
Play was cancelled on the outside courts for the second day running because of the rain, with matches only possible under the roof of the main stadium show court.
