Shanghai Roger Federer's Shanghai title defence has been sensationally derailed in the first round by Spanish qualifier Albert Ramos-Vinolas. Federer's old rival Rafael Nadal may have arrived by train from Beijing, but it was the 17-time major champion who was on the first plane out.
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After a first round bye, the Swiss second seed and No.1 tournament drawcard lost 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 to an unheralded 27-year-old left-hander who was 0-15 against top 10 opponents, and had taken just three games from Federer in their only previous meeting – at Wimbledon in 2012.
In the corresponding match in Shanghai last year, Federer saved a clutch of match points against Leonardo Mayer before going on to claim the tournament. But there would be no reprise, as 70th-ranked Ramos — who had who had eliminated American Sam Querrey in the previous round — celebrated a Federer return error on his first match point to record the finest win of his career.
"I just think the first round here in Shanghai has always been historically quite difficult, getting used to the conditions and the surface and the balls. The balls play very different than in other places,'' Federer said. "Last year I got lucky. This year I didn't. So it's a pity.''
Given that only Nick Kyrgios — in Madrid in May — had previously scripted such an early tournament exit for Federer during a solid 2015 season that has already brought five titles, the 34-year-old said he would "look into" why he was unable to take his chances against Ramos. "But at the end of the day this can happen during the year. Unfortunately here in Shanghai where I was defending champion, I was really hoping again to play a great tournament.''
Federer, who was playing his first match in three weeks, said Ramos had improved since the pair's grasscourt non-contest three years ago, when the surface also played its part. "I was aware that he could give me a tough workout and even beat me,'' said the 34-year-old, who stressed he was always cautious and respectful of less-decorated rivals.
"These guys are all touring professionals, they know what they're doing. The margins are so small, that's why I sometimes struggle to talk to you guys about, 'yeah, I'd like to play Novak in the finals, Rafa in the semis, Tsonga in the second round'. It's not like that. Now you're not asking me those questions. I wonder why, you know. Because I'm on a flight.''
Top seed Novak Djokovic, world No.2 Andy Murray and Nadal are among the players scheduled to play their opening matches on Wednesday.
Linda Pearce is a guest of the Shanghai Rolex Masters.
