Djokovic, Nadal paired in same half for Shanghai Rolex Masters

By Ma Yue | October 8, 2016, Saturday |

Online Edition

DEFENDING champion Novak Djokovic and fourth seeded Rafael Nadal have been drawn into the same half, and Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka lead in the other at the 2016 Shanghai Rolex Masters.

The main draw ceremony was held near the Bund and attended by a handful of star names including retired Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang, China’s first Winter Olympics gold medalist Yang Yang, China’s most successful diver Wu Minxia and the tournament’s ninth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

The top eight ranked players will receive a first round bye at the ATP 1000 series event, which is being held at the Qizhong Tennis Center in Minhang District.

Djokovic, who skipped the China Open in Beijing due to injury, will take on the winner of Albert Ramos-Vinolas and Fabio Fognini in his first match in Shanghai. The Serb has won three of the last four Shanghai Rolex Masters.

If he progresses from his quarter, he will likely face Nadal in the semifinals. But for that to happen, the Spaniard must first see off strong opponents like Tsonga, Bernard Tomic or John Isner, who are in his quarter.

Tsonga, who took part in the draw himself, “picked” Germany’s Florian Mayer as his first round opponent.

In the second half, the tournament’s second seed and Olympic champion Murray will face the winner of Steve Johnson and Martin Klizan in his first match in Shanghai. Fernando Verdasco and wildcard holder Juan Martin del Potro are also in his quarter.

China’s top ranked player Zhang Ze, who was given a wildcard, will take on a qualifier in his first round match. If he advances, his second round opponent will be either Australia’s Nick Kyrgios or American Sam Querrey.

Zhang lost to American Jack Sock 0-2 in the first round match of the China Open. But he insisted he was in good form and was chasing a personal breakthrough.

“It is embarrassing that I have played in Shanghai for many years but never won a (singles) match,” said the World No. 180 ranked Zhang.

“In a world class tournament like this, even qualifiers can be tough opponents. But I’ll give my best and try go further in the tournament this year.”

Zhang attended the Kinder Kids Day at Qizhong Tennis Center today and interacted with some 200 young tennis fans selected from the Kinder tennis training camp for children.

Zhang’s compatriot, world’s No. 184 ranked Wu Di, will take on Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas in the first round.

Tennis

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Djokovic, Nadal paired in same half for Shanghai Rolex Masters

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