Fernando Gonzalez Through In Shanghai

1 month ago 13th Oct 12:22

Fernando Gonzalez progressed into the second round of the Shanghai Masters after his opponent Mischa Zverev retired with an injury.

Despite the injury to the young German he made tenth seed Gonzalez battle into a third and deciding set before calling it a day.

It was a close contest in the opening set but powerful hitting and serving from the seed saw him claim the first set.

And Gonzalez was expected to go on and comfortably wrap up the match the German battled back with some superb tennis of his own to take the second and into a third a final set.

Zverev received treatment for a injury to his hand in the first game of the third set and managed to stay with Gonzalez at 2-2 before calling it a day.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the match Gonzalez said: "It was a really weird match. I felt the match almost in my hand in the second set and then it was turned over.

"I don't feel my best now, but I'm glad that I keep winning. I try my best, but sometimes you don't find the way that you really want to be. Maybe I'm tired?"

He will now face Thomaz Bellucci in the next round.

James Blake also progressed into the second round yesterday with a win over Croatian Ivo Karlovic with a three set struggle that finished 3-6 7-6 6-3.

James Blake has found some good form in the final stretch of the season and was too much for the big serving Croat.

He will now face top seed Rafael Nadal in the second round, a rematch of their Beijing clash last week that saw the American push the former Wimbledon champion to three very entertaining sets.

Radek Stepanek also progressed into the second round as he saw off former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero in convincing style as he won in straight sets 6-3 6-0.

David Ferrer beat Richard Gasquet 6-4 6-3 while there was more Spanish success as Tommy Robredo saw off Michel Llodra 6-1 6-4.

And Marat Safin continued his goodbye tour, he is due to retire at the end of the season, with a 6-4 6-4 win over Chinese wildcard Gong Mao-Xin.