Intro:

Two-time defending champion Novak Djokovic squeezes through to quarter-finals in three sets at Shanghai Masters on Thursday.

Script:

Novak Djokovic usually doesn't have any trouble reaching the final of the Shanghai Masters, The world number one has won the tournament the last two times but he had a real battle to get past his third round opponent Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin.

Already Rafael Nadal had been upset by Feliciano Lopez in the second round, and Djokovic had to rally to eventually win 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 to extend his 27-match winning streak in China.

The seven-time major winner got the early break in the third and held on for the win.

Roger Federer also advanced with a routine 6-4, 6-2 win over Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut, a night after he saved five match points and escaped with a three-set win in the second round against Leonardo Mayer of Argentina.

Nadal's conquerer Lopez is also through to the fourth round after beating 13th seed, John Isner 6-3, 6-4.