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• Safiullin triumph 'very close to a 10', insists Djokovic

  Novak Djokovic believed his straight-set triumph against Roman Safiullin at the Shanghai Masters was almost perfect, while reiterating his desire to compete at the very top. 

  Djokovic, featuring in his first tournament since his shock US Open exit, was largely untroubled in a 6-3 6-2 win against the Russian on Wednesday. 

  The world number four's triumph also saw him become the first player to reach 10 quarter-finals at the tournament in Shanghai, claiming his 37th victory in the process. 

  Djokovic is on a quest to claim his 100th ATP tour title, hoping to join the elite club that includes only Jimmy Connor and Roger Federer who have reached that milestone. 

  The Serbian had already beaten Alex Michelsen and Flavio Cobolli to reach the round of 16, and will face Czech teenager Jakub Mensik for a place in the final four. 

  And the 24-time grand slam champion said his tennis at the tournament so far is bringing him "a lot of joy". 

  "Very close to 10. The [past two matches] are some of the best matches I've played in a while," Djokovic said. 

  "I'm enjoying myself on the court and when you play well you are feeling good, there is a lot of joy in striking a tennis ball.

  "These matches and sensations are the reasons why I still play.

  "I believe I can play at a high level and it's about keeping that consistency.”

• Root targets 'many more runs' as Cook backs England great to set all-time record

  Joe Root is targeting "many more runs" after overtaking Alastair Cook as England's all-time leading Test run-scorer.

  The 33-year-old surpassed Cook's previous high of 12,472 on day three of the first Test against Pakistan on Wednesday.

  Root reached the mark by piling on 71 runs in the blistering Multan heat and reached 176 not out at the end of play with England 492-3.

  "I'm obviously proud but still feel there is plenty more left to do, and many more runs left to get," Root is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.

  "More than anything, the way we played as a team is what stands out - we've got ourselves back in a really good position."

  Root's 12,578 runs consist of 35 centuries, 1,355 fours and 44 sixes, coming across 146 matches.

  He is now fifth on the all-time list of run-scorers across all nations, with only Rahul Dravid (13,288), Jacques Kallis (13,289), Ricky Ponting (13,378) and Sachin Tendulkar (15,921) ahead of him.

  And with time still on his side age-wise, Cook has backed the man who took his England record to overtake each of those legendary names.

  "I would be betting on Root to do it," Cook told Test Match Special. "I don't see Root losing that hunger and ability to keep driving himself forward for the next couple of years.

  "He's just this consistent run-scoring machine. There are other geniuses who can play genius innings, but Root is a genius with consistency."

  England have never conceded as many as Pakistan's 556 and gone on to take a first-innings lead, but they trail by just 64 runs heading into day four.

  "We've still got an opportunity to win the game, which is really exciting," Root added. "Hopefully we can kick on tomorrow."

• Goffin produces Zverev upset to reach Shanghai quarters

  David Goffin produced a vintage display to down second seed Alexander Zverev and book his place in the quarter-finals at the Shanghai Masters on Wednesday. 

  Goffin, who has now reached the last eight of an ATP Masters 1000 event for the first time since 2021, emerged a 6-4 7-5 victor in just under two hours. 

  The Belgian was the first to take an early grip of the contest, finally managing a break point at the third time of asking in the third game, only for Zverev to respond straight after.

  But Goffin was able to find another break of serve, with the world number 66 closing out the first set with a love game to take a surprise lead. 

  Despite Zverev starting with a love game of his own in the second, the German quickly found himself 3-1 down as Goffin threatened to run away with the tie. 

  However, the second seed clawed his way back into the contest, levelling the score, but Goffin remained composed, sealing the victory with another love game. 

  Goffin will face seventh seed Taylor Fritz for a spot in the final four in Shanghai after the American swept aside Holger Rune 6-1 6-2 in just 55 minutes earlier in the day. 

  Data Debrief: Goffin joins elite club

  Goffin has become only the second player to defeat Zverev head-to-head on hard, grass and clay courts at ATP level, along with Roger Federer.

  With the Belgian, who is the 66th ranked player in the world, and Jakub Mensik, who is one place above, now through, it is the first time multiple players ranked outside the ATP's top 50 have made the quarter-finals at the Shanghai Masters since the event's inauguration in 2009.