Juan Martin del Potro battles past Alexander Zverev at Shanghai Masters

Updated 12/10/2017 at 14:53 GMT

Juan Martin del Potro recovered from a set down to beat third seed Alexander Zverev in the last 16 of the Shanghai Masters.

Juan Martin del Potro

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In the duo's first ever encounter, the Argentine prevailed 3-6 7-6(5) 6-4 on Thursday to advance to the quarter-finals, where he will face either John Isner or Viktor Troicki.

[Federer joins Nadal in reaching Shanghai quarters]

Del Potro dropped his opening service game of the match as Zverev took the first set comfortably in just 26 minutes.

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However, the 16th seed outlasted 20-year-old Zverev in the second-set tie-break to take it to a decider.

Alexander Zverev

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Del Potro then secured the all-important break in the fifth game of the final set, going on to close out the match after almost two hours on court.

Elsewhere, Grigor Dimitrov enjoyed a straight-sets victory over Sam Querrey in Thursday’s opening match in China.

The Bulgarian sixth seed overcame tenth seed Querrey 6-3 7-6(3) and will take on either Rafael Nadal for a place in the last four.

Richard Gasquet endured an epic battle with fellow Frenchman Gilles Simon, overcoming a rain interruption to win 7-5 6-7(5) 6-3 - Gasquet faces Roger Federer in the quarters.

Fourth seed Marin Cilic beat fellow big-server Steve Johnson 7-6(1) 6-4 to reach the last eight, while Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas was the victor against Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6(4) 6-4.

Viktor Troicki caused a shock as he defeated 12th seed John Isner 6-4, 7-6(4).