2010 Shanghai Rolex Masters, highlights from Thursday
The top seed Rafael Nadal of Spain was sent packing by the thirteen seed Jurgen Melzer in the third round of the 2010 Shanghai Rolex Masters Men’s Singles Competition in a three setter clash on Thursday. The final match score was 1 3-6 6-3.
It was just the ninth loss of the year for Nadal, who came into the Shanghai Rolex on the heels of win in the Rakuten Japan Open last week in Tokyo. It was the very first occasion since Roland Garros back in 2009 that the Spaniard has failed to advance further
than the third round in the twenty one championships since then.
"I felt slow on court, I had more mistakes than usual. I played shorter than normal. I was a bit exhausted both physically and mentally. I congratulate Melzer and that is it”, added the World number one on Thursday.
Nadal came into the third round without dropping a single set in Shanghai. However, Melzer still managed to take the first set comprehensively on Thursday at 6-1. He won the second set 6-3, however, the Austrian, who is currently ranked number twelve in
the World by the Association of tennis professionals (ATP), took the decisive set at 6-3 to meet Juan Monaco in the quarter final round in Shanghai.
Melzer after posting his biggest victory over the World number one said on Thursday, "The key was to put a lot of pressure on him. You cannot let him play his game, you will always be second. That play with his forehand, he is just too good".
The Spaniard came in Shanghai after capturing his debut title in Tokyo at the 2010 Rakuten Japan Open last week. He takes a pause standing 67-9 on the year and will next take part in the season ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London, which is set
to start from next month.
In other action, the World number three Roger Federer got the better of his Italian foe, Andreas Seppi, in a two setter clash to confirm his quarter final spot in Shanghai on Thursday. The final match score was 6-3, 6-4. Federer looked flawless right from
the start of the match as he played some great tennis on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the number one Brit Andy Murray also registered his name as the fourth player to successfully qualify for the year ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals as he bundled out Jeremy Chardy in two sets to advance into the quarters. The final score
line was 6-3, 6-4.
The Serbian tennis sensation Novak Djokovic on the other hand, who has already qualified for the elite eight man field in London continued his excellent form, knocking out Richard Gasquet in straight sets on Thursday. The final match score was 6-1, 6-1.
Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer will now be among the eight contenders next month in London.
Murray prevented all five break point opportunities he faced from the French player, whom he has now beaten in all three of their clashes.
The grass court Grand Slam runner up Tomas Berdych, Robin Soderling, David Ferrer and Andy Roddick from the United States of America are the next four players in the line-up for the World Tour Finals.
Elsewhere, the Swedish tennis ace Robin Soderling toppled David Ferrer in the third round clash on Thursday, whereas world number fifteen Jo-Wilfried Tsonga surpassed Florian Mayer 7-5, 6-3 to set up a clash against Andy Murray.
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez from Spain, who upset Rafael in the semi final round at the PTT Thailand Open in Bangkok few days ago, dispatched off his Czech foe Tomas Berdych in two sets. The final match score was 7-6 (7/4), 6-3.
Tags: