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.
Sinner's path to retaining the title this year has been made easier by the withdrawal of great rival Carlos Alcaraz, who dropped out last minute to rest.
The Italian's next match is on Sunday against the Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor.
Four-time Shanghai champion Novak Djokovic will take to the court again on Sunday as well, facing Germany's 150th-ranked Yannick Hanfmann.
Zverev and Medvedev advance
In earlier results, world number three Alexander Zverev defied a foot problem to book his place in the third round, beating France's Valentin Royer 6-4, 6-4.6-4, 6-4.
World number seven Alex de Minaur is through to the next round after comfortably dispatching Argentina's Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-4, 6-2.
Russia's Andrey Rublev, ranked 14th in the world, was upset by qualifier Yoshihito Nishioka 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.
But compatriot Daniil Medvedev dominated qualifier Dalibor Svrcina to advance 6-1, 6-1.
