World Number One Rafael Nadal as tweeted that he would not be taking part in Brisbane as he shifts his focus to the first Grand slam of the year which serves-off in Australia January 2018. The Spaniard who had an incredible 2017 that saw him win two Grand Slam titles and four other titles on […]
via Nadal Pulls Out Of Brisbane, Eyes Australia Open Return — newfanzoneblog
Rafa Nadal Seems to be finding his form very late in the Season As the Former world Number one defeated French Open Champion Stanislas Wawrinka in the quarter-finals of the 2015 Shanghai Masters.
Nadal thrashed Wawrinka in two straight sets 6-2 6-1 to make it to the Semifinals of the Shanghai Masters. The Spaniard has had a season to forget after returning from an injury and he as struggled to return to his peak which eventually culminated in him falling out of the top ten in the ATP Tour Rankings.
This will Be Nadal’s Second semifinals in two weeks after he also made it to the China Open Semifinals last week.
Meanwhile South African Kevin Anderson’s fairytale run has been cut short by French player Jo Wilfred Tsonga in a another quarter-final match.
Anderson gave a good account of himself but eventually fell to the frenchman 7-6 (8/6) 5-7 6-4.
Tsonga will now face Nadal in the Semifinals of the Shanghai Masters.
British Davis Cup hero Andy Murray had to work hard to make it to the quarter-finals in Shanghai when he came up against American John Isner Murray won 6-7(4) 6-4 6-4 to set up a quarter-final battle with Tomas Berdych.
South Africa’s Kevin Anderson brilliant season continued with his defeat of Japan’s Kei Nishikori 7-6(10) 7-6(3). He will now come up against France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-finals.
Two time Shanghai Masters Champion Novak Djokovic made light work of his game against Spain’s Feliciano Lopez as he beat him in two straight sets 6-2 6-3. The World number one dispatched the Spaniard with ease as he consolidated his grip on the number one Spot.
In quater-finals Djokovic will play Bernard Tomic, Tomic had earlier defeated 11th seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-3 6-7 6-4
Swiss Stan Wawrinka defeated Marin Cilic 7-5 6-7(7) 6-4 while a resurgent Rafa Nadal trashed Canada’s Milos Raonic 6-3 7-6(3). Nadal will now face Wawrinka in the Quarter-finals.
Shanghai Masters Quarter-Final pairings
Andy Murray vs Tomas Berdych
Kevin Anderson vs Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
Novak Djokovic vs Bernard Tomic
Stan Wawrinka vs Rafa Nadal
Novak Djokovic sauntered past Spaniard Feliciano Lopez to reach the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters on Thursday but Andy Murray had to claw past big-serving American John Isner after losing a first-set tiebreaker.
Dominant world number one Djokovic, twice a champion in Shanghai, eased to a 6-2 6-3 victory to stay on track for a ninth title of the year having picked up his eighth last week in Beijing where he dropped only 18 games in five matches.
The Serb, who could face Murray in the semi-finals, looks unbeatable, but warned there is still room for improvement.
“I still believe there are shots in my game that can be better. I think that’s one of the things that keeps me going. It motivates me to play more,” Djokovic told the ATP website.
Murray, playing his first tournament since helping Britain into the Davis Cup final last month, had to produce some of his best tennis in the face of 22 Isner aces.
The 28-year-old world number two finally preserved his perfect record against the American, winning 6-7(4) 6-4 6-4.
Murray managed a crucial break of serve at 5-4 in the second set and broke a tiring opponent in the seventh game of the final set on his way to victory.
“His serve is tough to read, obviously,” Murray said. “He has a great serve. It’s hard to return in perfect conditions.
“So when the ball’s coming in and out of the shade, and his ball toss, as well, it’s difficult. When the sun went away, the court was in the shade, I found it easier to see the serve.”
While Djokovic is beyond his reach in the rankings this year, Murray believes he can have a tilt at top spot next year.
“Obviously this year I have a good chance to finish at number two, which would be the first time for me,” he said.
“This year, although I’m a long way behind Novak in the rankings, a few matches can change that significantly. Grand slam semi-finals and finals, they’re the matches that are for big, big points.”
In the quarter-finals, Murray will meet fifth seed Tomas Berdych, who eased past Frenchman Gilles Simon 6-3 6-3.
Rafael Nadal, seeded eighth in Shanghai, continued his resurgence that saw him reach the Beijing final, moving through to a quarter-final clash with Stanislas Wawrinka.
Nadal beat Canada’s Milos Raonic 6-3 7-6(3) while Swiss Wawrinka battled past Marin Cilic 7-5 6-7(7) 6-4 after an almost three hour slugfest.
Japan’s Kei Nishikori, the sixth seed, was beaten 7-6(10) 7-6(3) by South Africa’s Kevin Anderson who still has his eye on a place in the ATP World Tour Finals in London. Anderson will face Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga next after he beat Roger Federer’s Spanish conqueror Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-7(5) 7-5 6-4.
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