Zverev, Djokovic, Potro in Shanghai Last-16

SHANGHAI, Oct 10 (AFP): Alexander Zverev fought off a cold and the blistering power of Nikoloz Basilashvili at the Shanghai Masters on Wednesday, calling the Georgian "the hardest-hitting player I have ever played against".

The young German star and fourth seed joins Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin del Potro in the last 16 after defeating the on-form Basilashvili 7-5, 6-4.

The 21-year-old Zverev suffered an early exit last week at the China Open in Beijing, where Basilashvili beat Del Potro for just his second ATP title on Sunday.

Zverev, who departed the Beijing hard courts by smashing his racquet, kept his cool this time to beat Basilashvili in 92 cagey minutes.