Murray gets bye in Shanghai

Published on Thursday 13 October 2011 00:17

Defending champion Andy Murray was handed a bye through to the third round of the Shanghai Masters as opponent Dmitry Tursunov pulled out of their match yesterday.

Russian Tursunov informed organisers a wrist injury would prevent him from playing the world No 4.

Murray, who as a leading seed also received a bye in the first round, will play Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka in the last 16.

The pair are frequent foes, with Murray holding a 5-4 lead in their career head-to-head record. Murray is looking to win a third successive title, after triumphs at the Thailand Open and Japan Open.

Meanwhile, world No 2 Rafael Nadal said yesterday that the constant change of ball designs at tournaments is causing players to risk injury.

The Spaniard has echoed Murray in complaining that commercial pressure from tournament sponsors had resulted in three ball changes over the last three events in Asia.

“You play in Bangkok with one ball, in Tokyo with another ball, here with another ball. That’s too much in my opinion. It is dangerous and can cause injuries,” said the 25-year-old after his second-round win in Shanghai. “Something must change because is too dangerous for the shoulders. You cannot change the ball every week.”

Nadal said he would prefer to receive less prize money in return for less pressure from sponsors to use different balls. “I am very happy to win less money and have my health,” he said. “If we compare the Tokyo ball with this one [in Shanghai], it was much bigger, slower. The ball is completely different. This ball is very fast, it goes small and doesn’t stay on the racquet. It flies a lot and is tough,” added Nadal after beating compatriot Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-3 6-2 to reach the third round.

Fourth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga suffered an unexpected defeat when he was beaten 6-7 6-4 6-4 by Kei Nishikori of Japan. Third-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer overcame tenacious Canadian Milos Raonic 7-5 7-6 in the second round, while, in another all-Spanish battle, Juan Carlos Ferrero beat 16th seed Fernando Verdasco 4-6 6-3 6-2. Sixth-seed Tomas Berdych beat compatriot Radek Stepanek 6-4 6-3.

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