RICKY DIMON DOES A SHANGHAI MEN’S TENNIS QUICK OVERVIEW , WILL FEDERER MAKE ALL THE RF FANS HAPPY ?

Djokovic seeking another title defense, Nadal hoping to bounce back in Shanghai , Roger is in Nishikori’s section of the draw & More

 

 

“I met somebody in the final who I’ve never seen before.”

 

That was Tomas Berdych’s analysis of Novak Djokovic following the Serb’s ruthless performance in a 6-0, 6-2 beatdown in Sunday’s China Open final. Berdych, who explained that it was not only the best he had ever seen Djokovic play but also the best he had seen any of his opponents play, came within one point of being double-bageled 6-0, 6-0.

 

Djokovic’s win gave him a successful title defense in Beijing and will hope to do the same this week in Shanghai, where he triumphed at the second to last Masters 1000 event of the year in 2013. The world No. 1 is 16-2 lifetime in Shanghai with titles in each of his two most recent appearances.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first section of the bracket is likely to produce another Djokovic vs. Andy Murray showdown. Djokovic will kick off his campaign against Dominic Thiem and potential third-round opponent Kevin Anderson is another big hitter, but the world No. 1 is so good at this tournament an all throughout Asia that it is hard to see him losing prior to the quarters—if at any point this week. Possible early-round adversaries for Murray are Jerzy Janowicz and David Ferrer.

 

Of the top four players in the world, the two Swiss stars–Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka–are likely the most content with their Shanghai draws. Federer, who is on a collision course with Djokovic for the semifinals, will open against either Leonardo Mayer or Chinese wild card Di Wu. The 33-year-old’s nearest seed is Roberto Bautista Agut, who is coming off a retirement in the Tokyo first round after squandering five match points against Gilles Simon.

 

A red-hot Nishikori is in Federer’s section, but the Japanese sensation has played nine matches in the past two weeks (two titles) and dealt with some minor physical issues in Tokyo. If Nishikori is not 100 percent, the door could be open for Jack Sock to reach third round and perhaps Grigor Dimitrov to face Federer in the quarters.

In his second tournament back following a three-month layoff due to wrist problems, Rafael Nadal is hoping to bounce back from a Beijing quarterfinal loss to Martin Klizan. The Spaniard’s draw is much more difficult than the statistics suggest. He is a combined 16-0 lifetime against the other three seeds in his section (5-0 vs. Milos Raonic, 7-0 vs. Ernests Gulbis, and 4-0 vs. John Isner). All three, though, wield the type of powerful game that can trouble Nadal. Two of three (Gulbis and Isner) have played extremely competitive matches against the world No. 2 in the past and the other (Raonic) is in outstanding form right now.

 

The third section is shaping up to be a three-horse race between Wawrinka, Berdych, and Marin Cilic. Berdych, for whom Cilic has been a thorn in the side in 2014, may have to go up against the U.S. Open champion once more in round three this week. Neither player, however, can look that far ahead. Berdych awaits either Richard Gasquet or Jeremy Chardy in the Czech’s opener and Cilic has to withstand Ivo Karlovic’s serve in the first round. Wawrinka is in a seemingly easier part of this quarter that also includes Fabio Fognini and Gilles Simon.

 

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Andy Murray, Beijing, China Open, Kei Nishikori, Novak Djokovic, Rafa, Rf, Ricky Dimon, Roger Federer, Tennis, Tomas Berdych

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