SHANGHAI:

World number two Jannik Sinner launched his Shanghai Masters title defence in fine form on Saturday, breezing past Germany's Daniel Altmaier 6-3, 6-3.

Sinner, fresh from winning the China Open, broke early in both sets to take control and ease himself comfortably into the third round.

The 49th-ranked Altmaier's best chance came in the eighth game of the first set, but he failed to convert a breakpoint twice, allowing the Italian to hold with an ace.

The second set provided even less opportunity to seriously bother the 24-year-old Wimbledon champion, but afterwards Sinner said it hadn't been easy.

"It's very tough... I had not a lot of time to adjust for here, it's very different conditions (to Beijing)," said Sinner.

Read:

Sinner's path to retaining the title this year has

See Full Page