Tenth seed Fernando Gonzalez reached the second round of the inaugural Shanghai Masters yesterday when Germany’s Mischa Zverev retired injured in the third set of a tight match.
The match was all square at 7-5, 6-7, 2-2 when the world No. 67 called an end to the contest because of what appeared to be a right wrist injury.
Gonzalez, the world No. 12, secured the first set with a superb backhand but mixed sublime shots with a string of feckless errors as the German’s aggressive tactics paid off.
PHOTO: EPA
The 22-year-old Zverev first got treatment on his hand at deuce in the opening game of the third set and decided he could not continue three games later.
Chilean Gonzalez, one of a handful of players competing for the last three spots at the season-ending World Tour Finals, will play Brazilian qualifier Thomaz Bellucci in the second round.
James Blake of the US earlier set up a second meeting in a week with top seed Rafa Nadal by standing his ground against an onslaught of 27 aces from Croatian Ivo Karlovic to win their first-round match 3-6, 7-6, 6-3.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Blake lost an entertaining match against the world No. 2 in Beijing last week and was under no misapprehensions about what he faces in the second round in China’s financial capital.
“I know how difficult it is to play him,” the New Yorker told reporters. “I know how much he makes you run, how hard he makes you work, how great defense he plays.”
“I know what I’m in for, and I’ll just prepare same way I did last week, just ... make sure my legs are fresh and ... be ready to face one of the best in the world,” Blake said.
Qualifier Lukasz Kubot spurned a chance to reacquaint himself with Andy Roddick, who he beat at the China Open last week.
Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka came from behind to beat the Pole 2-6, 7-6, 7-6 in a three-hour match and will play the American fourth seed in the second round.
In other matches Tommy Robredo of Spain beat Michael Llodra of France 6-1, 6-4, Brazil’s Tomaz Bellucci defeated Marco Chiudinelli of Switzerland 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 and David Ferrer of Spain downed Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-3.
■ JAPAN OPEN
AFP, OSAKA, JAPAN
India’s Sania Mirza sent out a strong signal of intent when she eliminated fifth seed Shahar Peer of Israel in the first round of the Japan Open women’s tennis tournament yesterday.
The 22-year-old Mirza, who captured her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open mixed doubles with Mahesh Bhupathi this season, needed one hour 52 minutes to complete a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over her frequent doubles partner.
In the second round, Mirza will take on Viktoriya Kutuzova of Ukraine, the winner over Russian Maria Kirilenko who retired after losing the first set 6-2.
Eighth seed Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan fell to France’s Mathilde Johansson 7-5, 2-6, 7-5, but fourth seed Francesca Schiavone of Italy and seventh seed Melinda Czink of Hungary safely went through.
Schiavone outclassed Anne Kremer of Luxembourg 7-5, 6-2, while Czink dispatched Japanese wild card entrant Ryoko Fuda 6-4, 6-4.
In other first-round action, Britain’s Katie O’Brien breezed past Alexa Glatch of the US 6-3, 6-4.
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