By Chris Soderstrom
Top seed Roger Federer suffered a shock defeat in his opening clash in Shanghai last night, losing to tournament debutant Gilles Simon.
Having pulled out at the Paris Masters last week due to a back injury, the four-time champion slumped to a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 defeat to Simon. He later believed a lack of match fitness proved a telling factor.
“Definitely today shots maybe I miss I normally don’t miss,” said the 27-year-old. “I think that’s just lack of practice and just uncertainty where my back was today. All this comes together at the end the day, sometimes against top players it’s not enough.”
“Now at least I have a match under my belt, especially three sets, and I hope I can play better in the next match.”
For Simon - a last minute replacement for injured World No. 1 Rafael Nadal - it was the second time he had prevailed against Federer after doing so at the Toronto Masters back in August.
“I’m very happy and very exhausted,” Simon told Shanghai media.
“It was a very long match but I played my best tennis in the last two sets.”
“I defeated him once in Toronto, so it was easier to finish the match. I had no complex when I served in the last game. And, for sure, it was one of the best victory of my career.”
Both players are still to play the two Andy’s – Murray and Roddick- in the round robin schedule of play.