Defending champion Novak Djokovic shrugged off an injury scare to win his Shanghai Masters opener yesterday, keeping alive the prospect of a mouthwatering quarter-final against Roger Federer
Djokovic cantered through his first set against Spain’s Marcel Granollers with the loss of only two games. But early in the second he pulled up in obvious discomfort and called for the ATP trainer, who applied heavy taping to his right foot and ankle.
Novak Djokovic receives treatment from an ATP trainer yesterday. Pic/Getty Images
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Despite the medical treatment, the 26-year-old did not look inconvenienced as he returned to the court to seal a 6-2, 6-0 victory, hitting a total of 26 winners. “It was just an awkward movement. I was in an off-balance position. I was running and I made a quick movement that caused a sharp pain at that instant moment,” said Djokovic. “But after the match we determined that it’s nothing serious, so it’s all fine.”
In a late-evening second round match, newly re-crowned World No 1 Rafael Nadal polished off Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov in less than an hour, with just five unforced errors in a 6-3, 6-2 win. Nadal admitted he found the going tough early in his match against Dolgopolov.
“In the beginning I couldn’t do anything. He was playing amazingly, hitting every ball very hard, playing winners from every place. The positive thing is that I resisted well at the beginning... But after that I think I played a great match,” he said.u00a0
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