Shanghai: Top seed Novak Djokovic and second seed Andy Murray advanced to the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Rolex Masters with fluent wins here Thursday.
The Serbian playing after a month long lay-off had no problems in defeating Canadian Vasek Pospisil 6-4, 6-4 in a match that lasted 80 minutes. Djokovic will now take on German Mischa Zverev, who defeated Spain’s Marcel Granollers 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-1.
Murray also had no problems in trouncing Lucas Pouille of France 6-1, 6-4 in a match that lasted only 57 minutes. Murray broke the Frenchman thrice in the first set and twice in the second without facing a single breakpoint on his serve. “It was kind of easy for me today,” Murray said after his match. “But once in a while you enjoy such easy games,” he added.
Meanwhile in a battle of big servers Jack Sock of the USA stunned fifth-seeded Milos Raonic of Canada 0-6, 6-4, 7-6 (11-9). It was an amazing comeback by Sock who lost the first eight games of the tie. Also booking a place in the last eight was Frenchman Jo Wilfried-Tsonga, a 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 7-5 winner against German Alexander Zverev.
Rafa may halt season early
Rafael Nadal said Thursday that he may call an early halt to his season and hit the practice courts instead as he bids to halt a slide in his form and results in time for next season. He was defeated by Viktor Troicki in the first round. It extended a difficult run for the Spanish left-hander who hasn’t reached a final since he won his second title of the year in Barcelona in April.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen in the next couple of weeks. It’s something that I need to think about,” said the World No. 5. “I cannot say now what I’m going to do during the next month. I’m not sure about my calendar. I’m not sure about the things that I need to do to try to be 100 per cent ready for next year.”
The last events of the season include the Swiss Indoors, the Paris Masters and the ATP World Tour Finals in London. But Nadal said more tournaments may not be what he needs.
“Sometimes keeping (on) competing is not the solution. Sometimes the solution is to practice and stop and have a process of training. And maybe that’s an opportunity to do it,” the Spaniard asserted.
Agencies