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Shanghai Masters 2014: Daily Update, 10/9

By Geoff Nichols

Aug 14, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Roger Federer returns the shot of Gael Monfils on day four of the Western and Southern Open tennis tournament at Linder Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 14, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Roger Federer returns the shot of Gael Monfils on day four of the Western and Southern Open tennis tournament at Linder Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /
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Shanghai Masters 2014: Daily Update, 10/9

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Round 3 of the Shanghai Masters played out in the early hours of Thursday morning, with tennis fans just about recovering from the shocks of the previous day. Roger Federer just about squeezed past Leonardo Mayer, who was near tears at the net having failed to convert 5 match points.

A host of other top names were in action, but the story of the Shanghai Masters thus far is of upsets and surprise performances. Notably qualifier Malek Jaziri was still going strong, as was American Jack Sock, fresh of the biggest singles win of his career over Kei Nishikori.

STADIUM
[6] Tomas Berdych beat Ivo Karlovic 6-3 6-4
[5] David Ferrer beat [11] Andy Murray 2-6 6-1 6-2
[1] Novak Djokovic beat Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3 4-6 6-4
Roger Federer beat [14] Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4 6-2

Ivo Karlovic had been giving everyone sleepless nights in the draw so far, but Thomas Berdych continued his imperious charge to the World Tour Finals with a straight forward straight sets win. He will look all the way to the final before he sees an opponent that he isn’t confident of beating. Roger Federer had a much more routine win today over 14th seed Roberto Bautista Agut, but his heroics the day before will live long in the memory.

Andy Murray’s pursuit of a place in the Top 8 took a hammer blow, as he lost in three sets to Spaniard David Ferrer. Murray looked on course for a routine victory over the 5th seed, but his game disappeared from him and Ferrer took advantage. It means Ferrer overtakes Murray in the Race for London, the Brit still having a lot of work to do to qualify. Novak Djokovic is already assured of his place, losing a rare set against Mikhail Kukushkin, but still progressing. He plays Ferrer next.

GRANDSTAND
Gilles Simon beat[Q] Malek Jaziri 6-2 6-3
Julien Benneteau beat Jack Sock 6-3 6-4
Mikhail Youzhny beat [WC] Juan Monaco 5-7 6-3 6-2
Feliciano Lopez beat [13] John Isner 6-3 6-4

Grandstand proved to be the graveyard for American men in Round 3. Jack Sock could not keep his momentum in the Shanghai Masters going, falling to Julien Benneteau. Similarly John Inser struggled to produce anything worthwhile against Nadal’s conqueror Feliciano Lopez. The news on Nadal is that he will have surgery for his appendicitis at the end of the season.

Elsewhere, experienced tour pros Gilles Simon and Mikhail Youzhny advanced the quarters of the Shanghai Masters, gaining points that will see them both rise up the rankings when they are released on Monday.

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