Shapovalov fires 6 aces en route to quarter-final berth in Dubai

Canada's Denis Shapovalov advanced to the quarter-finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Japan's Taro Daniel on Wednesday.

Shapovalov saved the only break point he faced and broke Daniel five times on eight chances in a match that took just over one hour and 23 minutes to complete.

The sixth-seeded Canadian was accurate on just 57 per cent of his first serves, but he won 21 of 24 available first-serve points, including six aces.

His lack of accuracy on first serve was negated by winning 16 of 18 points on his second serve.

Shapovalov, from Richmond Hill, Ont., improved his career record against Daniel to 2-0.

Next up for Shapovalov is a match against Lithuanian qualifier Ricardas Berankis, who sits 85 places lower than Shapovalov in the world rankings at No. 99.

Shapovalov and Berankis have met three times before, with the Canadian holding a 2-1 edge.

WATCH | Shapovalov completes comeback vs. Fucsovics on Tuesday:

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic won his second match — and first tiebreaker — of the year when he beat Karen Khachanov 6-3, 7-6 (2) on Wednesday to advance to the quarter-finals.

Djokovic couldn't defend his Australian Open title last month because he was deported from the country for not being vaccinated against the coronavirus.

The 34-year-old Serb said he's missed playing competitively.

"This is my life, this is what I've known to do, and I still keep on going for the last 20 years almost," Djokovic said in his on-court interview after beating his Russian opponent.

"Professional tennis is my love. I enjoy travelling, I enjoy playing, I enjoy hopefully bringing some positive emotions and memories to people that come to watch."

Djokovic is a five-time winner at the event. He will next play