MIXED BAG FOR AUSSIES IN SHANGHAI AS TOMIC JOINS DJOKOVIC IN THIRD ROUND BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 14th October 2015

MIXED BAG FOR AUSSIES IN SHANGHAI AS TOMIC JOINS DJOKOVIC IN THIRD ROUND BY RICKY DIMON |

Photo via Instagram

Bernard Tomic upset World Tour Finals contender David Ferrer 6-4, 6-2 in the second round of the Shanghai Rolex Masters on Wednesday afternoon. Ferrer had been coming off a title in Kuala Lumpur and a semifinal showing in Beijing, but he was no match for Tomic in this one.

“I’m very, very pleased,” the 22-year-old Australian assured. “I played very well. It was tough conditions; playing a very difficult player. It’s not easy when you step on court with him. This match is always tough. He’s in very good form. He won Malaysia, played well in Beijing. I knew I had to step on court and play the tennis I was playing like I did in Indian Wells against him. I thought I did a very good job of what I needed to do today.”

Fellow Aussie Nick Kyrgios came close to pulling off a surprise win of his own, but Kei Nishikori stormed from behind to advance 1-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Photo via Instagram

After dropping his first two service games, Nishikori did not face a single break point the entire rest of the way. Kyrgios became increasingly frustrated as the match progressed and–as always–was not afraid to show his disdain for how things turned in his opponent’s favor.

“I didn’t have the best start to this match today,” Nishikori assessed. “But I knew (could turn it around) if I could take the ball early a little bit more in the second set; try to be a little more patient. My serve wasn’t going in, especially in the beginning. I had three double-faults in the first game. My serve went well in the second and third sets.”

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal took much different paths to join Tomic and Nishikori in the last 16.

Fresh off another title in Beijing, Djokovic kicked off his week by destroying Martin Klizan 6-2, 6-1 in one hour and two minutes. Djokovic broke serve a whopping five times in just seven return games.

“I’m aware of the mental edge that I might have over a certain amount of players, and I try to use that,” Djokovic said. “I try to win and do anything that is possible and necessary for me to achieve that.”

Photo via Instagram

Nadal went the maximum distance and needed two hours and 43 minutes to outlast Ivo Karlovic 7-5, 6-7(4), 7-6(4).

A surprising first set featured three service breaks. Nadal trailed early but broke back twice, including at 6-5 to finish the opener in style. There were no breaks the rest of the match. The decisive moment and lone mini-break in the final-set tiebreaker came when Karlovic double-faulted at 4-4. Nadal promptly took care of his two service points and clinched victory in appropriate fashion–with a ripping forehand pass.

Next up for the Spaniard is Milos Raonic, who also prevailed in a third-set tiebreaker over Roberto Bautista Agut.

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

Printable Draws

Men’s singles: click here

Men’s doubles: click here

Order of play: click here

Topics: Atp World Tour, Bernard Tomic, David Ferrer, Ivo Karlovic, Kei Nishikori, Martin Klizan, Nick Kyrgios, Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal, Shanghai Masters, Sports, Tennis News

Follow 10SBALLS.COM on:

Facebook:

Twitter:

10sBalls_com says:

October 14, 2015 at 9:52 am

MIXED BAG FOR AUSSIES IN #Shanghai AS #Tomic JOINS @DjokerNole IN THIRD ROUND BY @Dimonator http://t.co/yr7F0JNMlV #tennis #ShanghaiMasters
Dimonator says:

October 14, 2015 at 9:53 am

RT @10sBalls_com: MIXED BAG FOR AUSSIES IN #Shanghai AS #Tomic JOINS @DjokerNole IN THIRD ROUND BY @Dimonator http://t.co/yr7F0JNMlV #tenni…