Djokovic through, Cilic, Thiem knocked out of Shanghai Masters
Domini Thiem. Photo/ATP
Chile’s Nicolas Jarry achieved a stunning upset by outlasting fifth-seeded Marin Cilic of Croatia, 2/6; 7/6 (6); 7/5 to move into the third round of the on-going Shanghai Masters tennis tournament.
Also the sixth seeded Domini Thiem of Austria fell to Matthew Ebden of Australia 6/4; 6/7 (8); 7/6 (4).
Earlier in the day, the second seed, Novak Djokovic defeated Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6/3; 7/5 in a second round match.
The fifth seeded Cilic won the first set quickly and could have won the match in the second set but lost the tie break 8-10.
Cilic got a break in the fifth game of the third set and served to extend the lead 4-2 and it seemed he was on the way to victory.
But the lanky Chilean had other ideas. He held serve to reduce the tally to 3-4 and later broke Cilic’s serve to level at five games apiece.
Serving in the 11th game, the 48th ranked player did not drop a point and clinched it with an ace.
Cilic needed to hold to stay in the match but his first serve was returned for a winner.
The second point of the game was also taken by Jarry off a first serve.
Then Cilic hammered his 17th ace of the match to reduce scores to 15-30. However, a second serve was hammered for a winner and the Chilean had the first match point.
Cilic battled to cancel the first match point but his opponent took the next point for the match.
Australia’s Matthew Ebden followed his first round three-set victory over American Tiafoe by outlasting Dominic Thiem of Austria.
The sixth seeded Thiem was a point away from defeat in the second set but clinched it in a close tie-break that ended 10 points to eight.
The third set also reached six games apiece and the 30-year-old Aussie (ranked 51 in the world) prevailed six points to four to win the set and match.
Serbia’s Borna Coric defeated American Bradley Klahn 6/4; 6/2. Was fatigue a factor, considering that Klahn had outlasted Australia’s Nick Kyrgios in a marathon of three sets? Germany’s Peter Gojowczyk achieved victory over Marton Fucsovics of Hungary, 6/4; 6/7 (3); 7/6 (5).
