Page 21 - atoday

SPORTS A21
Friday 16 October 2015

Djokovic wins again in Shanghai; Nadal, Murray also advance

cause I did have some “Today I feel that I am not
chances and I didn’t take playing with the nerves
them,” Isner said. “If I want when I am on court,” Nad-
to take that next step, I’ve al said. “I am able to en-
got to do that, and I didn’t. joy.”
And it’s happened a lot.” In other matches, Tomas
Nadal also had a lengthy Berdych defeated Gilles
losing streak against elite Simon, last year’s Shanghai
players, but he managed runner-up, 6-3, 6-3; and Jo-
to turn his around against Wilfried Tsonga advanced
the ninth-seeded Raonic. with a 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-4 win
He had lost his last five over Spanish qualifier Al-
matches — and 11 straight bert Ramos-Vinolas, who
sets — to top-10 opponents ousted Roger Federer in
going back to May. the second round.q

Andy Murray of Britain celebrates after defeated John Isner of the United States in his second
round of the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015.

Associated Press

JUSTIN BERGMAN ray saved all seven break dropped on the line.
Associated Press points he faced and held After the match, the Ser-
SHANGHAI (AP) — Novak on to beat big-serving bian player said that even
Djokovic has been win- John Isner 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4; though he’s been winning
ning with relative ease Rafael Nadal defeated so convincingly in China,
over the past week and a Canada’s Milos Raonic 6-3, he still sees room for im-
half in China and yet he 7-6 (3); and Stan Wawrinka provement.
still doesn’t think his game topped Marin Cilic 7-5, 6-7 “I still believe there are
is perfect. (7), 6-4. shots in my game that can
His opponents might like to Sixth-seeded Kei Nishikori be better,” he said. “I think
disagree. of Japan, meanwhile, was that’s one of the things that
Djokovic defeated 15th- upset by South Africa’s keeps me going. It moti-
seeded Feliciano Lopez Kevin Anderson 7-6 (10), vates me to play more.”
6-2, 6-3 to reach the quar- 7-6 (3). Murray had won all four
terfinals of the Shanghai Lopez, who lost to Djokovic of his previous encounters
Masters on Thursday, ex- in the quarterfinals of last with Isner, but they all went
tending his winning streak month’s U.S. Open, tried to three sets — and this
to 14 straight matches dat- to disrupt the Serbian star’s one was no different.
ing back to his title run at rhythm by serving and vol- Isner had multiple break
the U.S. Open. leying and using a variety chances in the match, in-
He’s also captured 16 of drop shots, sliced back- cluding two when Murray
straight sets, and hasn’t hands and sharp angles. was serving for the second
surrendered more than five Djokovic, however, played set. The Scot saved the first
games in a single match a superb defensive game break point with a drop
since the start of the China and continually scrambled shot and the second with
Open last week. after Lopez’s shots for win- a second-serve ace up the
“He’s already the tough- ners. During one point in the middle that caught Isner
est player to play right now second set, Lopez chased flat-footed. The American
in the game,” Lopez said. down a volley and hit an was so angry, he ripped off
“No doubt about that. It’s angled shot around the his hat and flung it to the
something very obvious.” post into the open court ground.
On a day when 14 of the only to watch Djokovic It was his ninth straight loss
world’s top 17 players stab at the ball and float to top-10 opponents.
were playing, Andy Mur- a lob over his head that “It’s disappointing be-