Roger Federer loses to qualifier Albert Ramos-Vinolas at Shanghai Masters

However, his tough competitor, Novak Djokovic, is reportedly a brutal reminder that Federer’s dream of becoming World No. 1 again won’t be easy.

Defending champion Roger Federer and Andy Murray await in China’s southeastern metropolis, in what is a challenge of a different order for Djokovic with an elite men’s field.

“That’s exciting”, said Federer. “Novak is just meant to be up there right now”. “This time what I had, with my not having the control of my nerves or my emotion, is like coming back from an injury, too”, he told reporters.

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios beat Andreas Haider-Maurer 6-3, 6-2; Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic scored a 6-4, 7-6 (6) victory against Jeremy Chardy and Feliciano Lopez topped Andrey Kuznetsov 6-4, 7-6 (3). He also got the better of Djokovic at the Cincinnati Masters, beating the Serb in straight sets 7-6(1) 6-3 to claim his seventh Cincy title.

The last time he and Ramos-Vinolas played at Wimbledon in 2012, the Spaniard only won three games.

That includes in the Shanghai semis previous year; Djokovic’s first defeat in 28 matches in China, when he produced what the world No 1 described a “perfect performance”.

Federer now returns to Switzerland where he plans to “hit the gym” on Friday as he prepares for his hometown tournament in Basel, which begins on October 26, his third-last tournament of the season before it culminates at the ATP World Tour Finals in London next month.

Both Federer and Djokovic are taking part at the 2015 Shanghai Rolex Masters.

Federer, who was given a bye in round one, recovered from losing the first set on a tie-break to win the second 6-2 and appeared set to book his place in the last 32.

Zhang Ze will take on Martin Klizan in his first-round match.