Nadal, Federer not troubled in Shanghai

Rafael Nadal (above) took just 54 minutes to beat Jared Donaldson.
Rafael Nadal (above) took just 54 minutes to beat Jared Donaldson. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

SHANGHAI • Rafael Nadal made light work of the unseeded American Jared Donaldson to sprint into the third round of tennis' Shanghai Masters yesterday.

The world No. 1, fresh from winning the China Open and the US Open, ruthlessly disposed of the 56th-ranked Donaldson 6-2, 6-1 in just 54 minutes.

The 16-time Grand Slam winner will play Italian Fabio Fognini in the next round.

His long-time rival Roger Federer, playing his first match since losing to Juan Martin del Potro in the US Open quarter-finals, had to work harder for his win, taking 1hr 33min to beat Argentina's Diego Schwartzman 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.

While the two tennis greats encountered little trouble, temperamental Australian Nick Kyrgios was in the spotlight again, as he was fined US$10,000 (S$13,600) and lost another US$21,085 in prize money yesterday after storming off midway through his first-round match on Tuesday.

The ATP said it had fined the controversial 22-year-old for unsportsmanlike conduct and he will not collect his prize money because he failed to get signed off for a medical test after retiring from his match.

It was a nasty case of deja vu for the world No. 21. A year ago he argued with spectators and was accused of giving away points in a defeat at the same Shanghai event. He was consequently fined and suspended.

His immediate future in tennis is again under threat following Tuesday's incident, when he hastily exited the court with jeers and boos ringing in his ears.

It came after he complained about the umpire and spectators in the arena, and was docked a point penalty for the second match running because of his conduct, which included blasting a ball out of the court in a flash of rage.

"What's happening here?" he asked, seemingly irritated by spectators moving around between points in the tie-break. "Exactly why I shouldn't come here," he muttered.

Kyrgios appeared to blame the umpire for failing to get the spectators in line and his afternoon worsened fast when he received a point penalty.

"Poor officiating again," he complained, and added: "Sick of this place."

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on October 12, 2017, with the headline Nadal, Federer not troubled in Shanghai. Subscribe