Winning return for Djokovic but Del Potro falters
Print Edition
DEFENDING champion Novak Djokovic needed just one hour and 15 minutes to beat Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-3 as he returned to action from injury in the second round of the Shanghai Rolex Masters yesterday, while two seeds, David Ferrer and Richard Gasquet as well as Juan Martin Del Potro fell in the first round.
Djokovic, a three-time champion, was playing his first match since his runner-up finish at the US Open.
“I am just pleased to be back on court considering I skipped Beijing (China Open),” said the Serb. “I have good memories on this court. I believe things will progress as time goes by.”
The top seed was rusty in his comeback in Shanghai — double-faulting four times and making 18 unforced errors with only 13 winners — but he had no trouble dispatching an even more erratic Fognini, who racked up 40 unforced errors of his own.
The defending champion will play Grigor Dimitrov or Canada’s Vasek Pospisil in the third round. Bulgarian Dimitrov accounted for 14th seed Gasquet of France 6-4, 6-4. Dimitrov is coming off a runner-up finish to Britain’s Andy Murray at the China Open.
In an earlier match on center court, Del Potro lost 6-4, 3-6, 5-7 to 11th-seeded David Goffin. A runner-up in Shanghai in 2013, Del Potro entered this year’s tournament as a wildcard. The Argentine started the match smoothly and took the first set before his Belgian rival pulled even by taking the next. The in-form Goffin, who lost to Australian Nick Krygios in the Japan Open final on Sunday, went on to win the decider 7-5.
“I played much better than him at the beginning, and then he started to go up with the level of the game and returned much better,” said the Argentine, who appeared a bit exhausted at the post-match press conference. “I tried to make winners more often but couldn’t avoid mistakes. I made mistakes with my forehand at the end and in other important moments, and he took all his chances.”
Del Potro praised his opponent but also gave a nod to his own performance but said he needed some rest to prepare for the Davis Cup final against Croatia next month.
“For me it has been a great season trying to do a good comeback after many injuries. Hopefully I can be better in the next two tournaments in Stockholm and Basel. Then I will rest and prepare for the big important challenge (Davis Cup) for me and for my country.”
Davis Cup is the last important thing remaining for the Argentine this year, who also made some wish for next season. “I will try to get a better ranking than today. And then outside tennis, just be happy, as you know it’s not easy when you travel a lot and miss moments with friends and family. I’m looking forward to be on tour for many years.”
In other second-round matches, 9th-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga ousted Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic 6-3, 7-6 (6) while his compatriot Gael Monfils, the 6th seed, beat Kevin Anderson of South Africa 7-6 (4), 6-3
In an afternoon clash between two Spaniards, 10th seed Ferrer lost to Feliciano Lopez 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-7 (4) after 2 hours and 30 minutes of struggle.
Each claimed one set before Lopez took a 5-4 advantage in the decider. Ferrer was leading 40-0 in the 10th game, but committed a double fault, allowing Lopez a way back into the match; he had two match points, which were saved by Ferrer. Both players won their next service games and pushed the match into a deciding tiebreak. After drawing 3-3 on the first six points, Lopez created three match points when leading 6-3, and secured the victory on the second match point. He smashed a total of 20 aces compared to Ferrer’s 6.
It’s the second straight year that Ferrer, who reached the semifinals in Beijing, has failed to go past the opening round in Shanghai.
In other first-round matches, American Jack Sock beat Guido Pella of Argentina 7-6 (3), 7-5; 12th seed Kyrgios overcame American Sam Querrey 6-4, 6-4; Paolo Lorenzi of Italy defeated Spain’s Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-3; and Frenchman Lucas Pouille beat Spain’s Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-3.
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