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  Djokovic, Murray stroll through, Sock shuts out Raonic in Shanghai

Djokovic, Murray stroll through, Sock shuts out Raonic in Shanghai

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Published : Oct 14, 2016, 12:17 am IST
Updated : Oct 14, 2016, 12:17 am IST

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic dropped a hint that he may split with coach Boris Becker on Thursday, as Nick Kyrgios was hit with a big fine for his Shanghai Masters meltdown.

Britain’s Andy Murray reacts after winning a point against Lucas Pouille of France on Thursday. (Photo: AFP)
 Britain’s Andy Murray reacts after winning a point against Lucas Pouille of France on Thursday. (Photo: AFP)

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic dropped a hint that he may split with coach Boris Becker on Thursday, as Nick Kyrgios was hit with a big fine for his Shanghai Masters meltdown.

Djokovic, who says he is taking a fresh mental approach after struggling in recent months, revealed that he had made no plans about retaining Becker in his team next year.

“We are still working (together), yeah... for now the plan is the rest of the season, what’s left, indoor tournaments,” said Djokovic, after reaching the Shanghai quarter-finals.

Asked what would happen next year, the defending champion said: “We still haven’t talked about it.”

Becker joined Djokovic’s coaching team at the start of 2014, helping him win six of his 12 Grand Slam titles and put together one of the all-time great seasons last year.

Speculation about their partnership has grown since the Serb suffered a crisis of motivation and a series of injuries since completing a career Grand Slam at the French Open.

Djokovic skipped last week’s China Open with his wrist injury but he was in impeccable form as he dismantled Canadian qualifier Vasek Pospisil 6-4, 6-4 on Thursday.

Second-ranked Andy Murray, who is gunning for Djokovic’s world number one crown, was even more impressive as he walloped Lucas Pouille 6-1, 6-3.

Murray didn’t face any break points against France’s Pouille as, like Djokovic, he raced into the last eight without dropping a set.

Separately Australia’s Kyrgios received a $16,500 fine after his extraordinary 6-3, 6-1 defeat to 110th-ranked Mischa Zverev where he tanked points and argued with fans.

America’s Jack Sock beat Milos Raonic 0-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10/8), ending a run of eight straight defeats to the Canadian fifth seed.

Tsonga ousts Zverev And Jo-Wilfried Tsonga ousted racquet-smashing teenager Alexander Zverev, denying the young German a potential match-up with his older brother, Mischa.

Zverev, 19, pushed the ninth seed all the way until he was broken for 5-6 in the third set, prompting a furious racquet-battering which earned him a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Tsonga, serving for the match, safely negotiated three break points before a spectacular airborne smash set up match point, which he gobbled up to win 6-7 (4/7), 6-2, 7-5.

Radwanska races past Rodina Beijing: Top seed Agnieszka Radwanska enjoyed a rapid win in the WTA Tianjin Open second round on Thursday, demolishing her opponent Evgeniya Rodina 6-1, 6-1.

The only other seed in action on Thursday, Puerto Rican Monica Puig, also had a straight sets win, disposing of Spain’s Lara Arruabarrena 6-4, 6-2.

Low-ranked American Alison Riske, the world no. 56 whose victory at the 2014 Tianjin Open remains her only WTA Tour title, continued her quest for a repeat, beating Poland’s Magda Linette 6-3, 7-6 (7/2).

The Tianjin Open carries a total prize purse of $426,750, according to the WTA’s website.

Paes-Begemann in title clash Tashkent: Leander Paes earned himself a shot at his third ATP Challenger level title of the season by reaching the final of the $1,25,000 Tashkent event with Andre Begemann.

The third seeded Indo-German duo annihilated local pair and giant-killers Sanjar Fayziev and Jurabeck Karmov 6-2, 6-0 in the semi-finals of the hard court event.

Paes and Begemann needed only 42 minutes to win the match, in which they broke their rivals five times.

Location: China, Shanghai