Federer wins Shanghai Masters opener; Murray loses

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Federer wins Shanghai Masters opener; Murray loses

Roger Federer hits return against Albert Ramos-Vinolas during their match at the Shanghai Masters. (AP)

Shanghai - Andy Murray went down in a bruising three-set defeat to 12th-ranked Italian Fabio Fognini

By AFP

Published: Tue 8 Oct 2019, 7:43 PM

Last updated: Tue 8 Oct 2019, 9:48 PM

Ruthless Roger Federer claimed victory in his Shanghai Masters opener on Tuesday with a straight-set win over Spain's Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
The 38-year-old Swiss won 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) and plays Belgium's 13th seed David Goffin or Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan in the last 16.
The third-ranked Federer is looking to end the season on a high with a fourth title of the year - although he failed to win a 21st Grand Slam this season.
The 46th-ranked Ramos-Vinolas put up a better fight in the second set, forcing the tie break and taking a 2-0 and then 4-1 lead in it.
But cheered on by his band of local supporters, who held aloft banners proclaiming their hero "superhuman", Federer won the tie break - and the match - with a forehand smash.
Meanwhile, Andy Murray went down scrapping in a bruising three-set defeat to 12th-ranked Italian Fabio Fognini on Tuesday.
Fognini plays the unseeded American Taylor Fritz or Russian seventh seed Karen Khachanov in the last 16 after a bad-tempered 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 7-6 (7/2) victory.

RESULTS

1st Round Lucas Pouille (FRA) beat Zhe Li (CHN) 6-7(4) 6-4 6-4; 16-John Isner (USA) beat Alex De Minaur (AUS) 7-6(1) 6-4; Felix Auger-Aliassime beat Alexander Bublik (KAZ) 7-6(5) (CAN) (Retired); Reilly Opelka (USA) beat Dusan Lajovic (SRB) 6-3 6-4; 11-Matteo Berrettini (ITA) beat Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) 6-2 6-1; John Millman (AUS) beat Guido Pella (ARG) 6-3 7-5; Andrey Rublev (RUS) beat 12-Borna Coric (CRO) 6-4 7-6(4); 13-David Goffin (BEL) beat Richard Gasquet (FRA) 6-2 6-3
2nd Round Hubert Hurkacz (POL) beat 9-Gael Monfils (FRA) 6-2 7-6(1); 3-Daniil Medvedev (RUS) beat Cameron Norrie (GBR) 6-3 6-1; Vasek Pospisil (CAN) beat Joao Sousa (POR) 6-3 7-5; 10-Fabio Fognini (ITA) beat Andy Murray (GBR) 7-6(4) 2-6 7-6(2); 15-Nikoloz Basilashvili beat Benoit Paire (FRA) 6-4 1-6 6-1 (GEO); 2-Roger Federer (SUI) beat Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) 6-2 7-6(5).