LONDON – Britain's Andy Murray had his run at the Shanghai
Masters ended in the second round on Tuesday as he was edged out by
Italian Fabio Fognini 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 7-6 (7-2) in a three-hour
thriller.
Murray, still working his way back to full fitness after major hip
surgery, had two chances to serve out the match at 5-4 and 6-5 in the
third set but couldn't open up a match point.
Fognini rallied back and raced away in the deciding tie-break for a
place in the third round.
It did get heated between the pair in the final set after Murray
complained about Fognini's conduct after he yelled when Murray was
trying to play a shot at 5-5. As he was explaining to the umpire,
Murray told Fognini to "shut-up."
World number 12 Fognini will go on to face either American Taylor
Fritz or Russia's Karen Khachanov in round three.
Murray's fellow Briton Cameron Norrie is also out after he lost to
third-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-1 in 54 minutes.
Meanwhile, Roger Federer advanced to the third round with a 6-2, 7-6
(7-5) win over Spain's Albert Ramos-Vinolas.
The 20-time grand slam champion looked comfortable after breaking
twice to secure the first set, but had to rally from 1-4 down in the
tie-break to triumph in 86 minutes.
"Serve was solid. I was hitting my spots and really was never in
trouble there," Federer said.
"He (Ramos-Vinolas) had his chances, but it was a nice comeback for
me, and overall, I was very happy."
Murray and Fognini could not be separated until a tie-break in the
first set despite both players earning two service breaks each.
In the tie-break, Murray made two forehand errors at 5-4, the latter
soaring wide out of play, to concede the lead after an exhausting
trade-off.
The three-time grand slam champion soon revived for a 5-2 lead in the
second set as Fognini wilted through errors to see the match enter a
third and final frame.
Murray saw a match-winning opportunity with a break at 5-4 in the
third after Fognini failed to reach a low shot before a second
bounce. However, Fognini broke back immediately to restore level
terms.
A second chance quickly presented itself for Murray as the Scot
secured another break at 6-5, but he couldn't close out the match on
serve as a long return saw Fognini earn a winner-takes-all
tie-break.
The errors from Murray continued at the most crucial point as Fognini
was afforded a 6-1 lead.
Murray saved one match point but left himself too much work to do as
his final shot in Shanghai was a netted forehand after another
tiresome effort.
Earlier, American John Isner progressed to the second round of the
Shanghai Masters after easily dispatching Australia's Alex de Minaur
in a 7-6 (7-1), 6-4 victory.
The 34-year-old fired down 18 aces as he triumphed in one hour and 21
minutes in China.
He will next play Frenchman Lucas Pouille who eliminated Chinese
wildcard Li Zhe 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-4.
Another American Reilly Opelka is through to round two after he
defeated Serbia's Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-4 to face Spain's Roberto
Bautista-Agut next.
Russian Andrey Rublev progressed with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) win over
Croatia's Borna Coric and he will meet Australian John Millman, who
brushed aside Argentine Guido Pella 6-3, 7-5.
Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili surpassed France's Benoit Paire 6-4,
1-6, 6-1.
The race to London's ATP Finals is a key objective for some players
in Shanghai and Italy's Matteo Berrettini has a slight chance after
beating German Jan-Lennard Struff 6-2, 6-1.
Berettini is ranked 11th in the race rankings, three spots shy of the
final eighth spot occupied by Alexander Zverev, who plays on
Wednesday.
Frenchman Gael Monfils' hopes were ended after he was beaten by
Poland's Hubert Hurkacz 6-2, 7-6 (7-1).