Federer Shocked Tuesday at ATP Shanghai Masters; Djokovic, Nadal, Murray Wednesday
Roger Federer hadn’t played a tour event since the US Open, and the rust showed on Tuesday as the No. 2 seed exited the Shanghai Masters in his opening-round match, falling to Spanish qualifier Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-3.
“I’m always cautious,” said Federer, who last year saved five match points against Leo Mayer in the first round, going on to win the title. “I just think the first round here in Shanghai has always been historically quite difficult, getting used to the conditions and the surface and the balls. Last year I got lucky. This year I didn’t. So it’s a pity.”
Federer was broken at 3-4 in the third set and the Spaniard went on to serve out the match in a stunner. The Swiss had participated in Davis Cup three weeks ago defeating The Netherlands.
“I’m really happy to beat Roger Federer,” said Ramos-Vinolas, who was 0-15 career against Top 10 players and ranked No. 70. “I didn’t expect it during the match. After the second set I thought I would lose. But I played really good. I was very solid with my serve in the third set.”
Federer was the lone seeded loser on the day as fellow Top 10ers Milos Raonic and Gilles Simon won their openers.
The No. 9-seeded Canadian edged Thomaz Bellucci 7-6(5), 7-6(2), while the No. 10-seeded Frenchman avoided at upset at the hands of Georgian qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-3, 4-6, 6-0.
“I feel like I’m in a good place physically and mentally,” Raonic said. “Now I hope I can play some good tennis. It’s just been in a lot of ways a frustrating season. For most of it, through many important tournaments, not to be able to play at 100 percent, that sort of has its own downfalls, I guess. I’m trying to make the most of it now for the rest of the year.”
With Federer’s exit the draw now opens up for No. 16 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who was a 6-3, 6-2 winner on Tuesday over Victor Estrella Burgos.
In other seeded action No. 11 Richard Gasquet put down the big-serving Gilles Muller in straights, No. 12 Kevin Anderson straight-setted wildcard Tommy Haas, and No. 14 Marin Cilic powered past Borna Coric 6-1, 6-2.
Unseeded winners were Jack Sock next lining up No. 5 Tomas Berdych, Vasek Pospisil who will next meet the No. 11 Gasquet, David Goffin who will next face No. 13 John Isner, Viktor Troicki who with a three-set win over Pablo Cuevas earns a meeting with No. 4 Stan Wawrinka, and the mercurial Fabio Fognini who will next face down the big serving of the No. 12-seeded Anderson.
Top seeds Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Kei Nishikori are all in action on a loaded Tuesday schedule.
TUESDAY SHANGHAI SCHEDULE
STADIUM start 1:30 pm
[6] K. Nishikori (JPN) vs N. Kyrgios (AUS)
[3] A. Murray (GBR) vs S. Johnson (USA)
Not Before 6:00 pm
[1] N. Djokovic (SRB) vs M. Klizan (SVK)
Not Before 8:00 pm
[8] R. Nadal (ESP) vs I. Karlovic (CRO)
GRANDSTAND start 1:30 pm
B. Tomic (AUS) vs [7] D. Ferrer (ESP)
J. Sock (USA) vs [5] T. Berdych (CZE)
V. Troicki (SRB) vs [4] S. Wawrinka (SUI)
Not Before 6:00 pm
R. Bautista Agut (ESP) vs [9] M. Raonic (CAN)
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