Federer eases into Shanghai quarter-finals

Shanghai - Roger Federer avoided a potential banana skin in outclassing the Ukrainian qualifier Alexandr Dolgopolov to reach the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters on Thursday.

The Swiss legend looked rusty in his opener on Wednesday but was closer to his fluent best as he swatted away Dolgopolov 6-4, 6-2 in a swift 61 minutes on court.

The 36-year-old Federer, the second seed, plays either of the Frenchmen Gilles Simon or Richard Gasquet next.

Results from the ATP Shanghai Masters on Thursday (x denotes seeding):

Roger Federer (SUI x2) bt Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) 6-4, 6-2

Rafael Nadal (ESP x1) bt Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-3, 6-1

Marin Cilic (CRO x4) bt Steve Johnson (USA) 7-6 (7/1), 6-4

Grigor Dimitrov (BUL x6) bt Sam Querrey (USA x10) 6-3, 7-6 (7/3)

Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) bt Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) 7-6 (7/4), 6-4

Juan Martin del Potro (ARG x16) bt Alexander Zverev (GER x3) 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4