Tennis: Federer ‘express’ knocked out in Shanghai

Tennis: Federer ‘express’ knocked out in Shanghai

Tuesday, October 13, 2015 7:31 pm


Roger Federer: stunning  loss

Roger Federer: stunning loss

Shanghai Masters defending champion Roger Federer suffered a surprise defeat in the second round on Tuesday, losing 7-6(4) 2-6 6-3 to Spain’s left-handed Albert Ramos-Vinolas.

The Swiss, returning to action after a month off, looked rusty against the 70th-ranked qualifier and despite appearing to be back on track when he cruised through the second set, he succumbed in the decider to a single break of serve in the eighth game.

U.S. Open runner-up Federer, 34, banged down 15 aces and won more points than his opponent but a lack of sharpness at crucial moments sent him spinning to defeat.

Ramos-Vinolas, 27, had never beaten a player ranked in the top 10 before. His reward for some fearless tennis was a third-round meeting with Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga who outclassed Victor Estrella Burgos in straight sets.

“I’m really happy to beat Roger Federer,” Ramos-Vinolas told the ATP’s website.

“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. I am very happy because it’s the most important victory for me.”

Federer in his reaction said: “I had my chances. I just couldn’t make it today. I’ve got to look into it. But at the end of the day this can happen during the year. Unfortunately, here in Shanghai where I was defending champion, I was really hoping again to play a great tournament.

“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. The balls play very different than in other places. Last year I got lucky. This year I didn’t. So it’s a pity.”

Ninth seed Milos Raonic, one of several players hovering around the cut-off mark for the year-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London, reached the second round when he came through against Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci in two tiebreaks.

South Africa’s Kevin Anderson, seeded 12, beat German veteran Tommy Haas in straight sets. Both world number one Novak Djokovic and World number 2 Andy Murray will play on Wednesday.


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