Shanghai: Defending champion Novak Djokovic and second seed Andy Murray were on course for a final face-off with both registering victories, though contrasting ones, in their respective quarterfinals of the ATP Shanghai Masters tennis tournament here Friday.
Top seed Serbian Djokovic had to sweat it out against World No.110 German Mischa Zverev before winning 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 to reach the semifinals. However, Murray had no such problems as he trounced David Goffin of Belgium 6-2, 6-2 in a match that lasted just 97 minutes.
The star of the day however was unseeded Roberto Bautista-Agut of Spain who stunned ninth seed Jo- Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 6-4 in just 73 minutes. The Spaniard never faced any breakpoint on his serve, but broke the Frenchman twice at crucial junctures to book a face-off against Djokovic.
Djokovic, however, was lucky to scrape past the German. After losing the opening set in 40 minutes, the Serbian found himself a break down early in the second. But he rallied to break back and then in the tie-break was always in control. He won the set with a crisp drop volley and then in the third he broke Zverev in the seventh game before closing out the match easily.
“Whew it was a bit of a scare, it was,” Djokovic said after the game. “I was not finding the range on my shots and that did not help either. Hopefully, I will be in better form tomorrow.”
Kerber stunned
Meanwhile World No.1 Angelique Kerber crashed out of the Hong Kong Open in the quarterfinals Friday, the German slumping to a shock 1-6, 3-6 defeat to Australia’s Daria Gavrilova at the Victoria Park courts. Kerber committed six double faults and struggled on serve as her 38th-ranked opponent secured victory in 74 minutes.
Gavrilova will meet Kristina Mladenovic who defeated American Bethanie Mattek-Sands 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3). In another quarterfinal played on the day Caroline Wozniacki beat Quian Wang 6-3, 7-5.
Agencies