Nishikori advances to 3rd rd of Shanghai Masters

So says Australian tennis’ most headline-worthy bad boy/pariah/ peanut Nick Kyrgios after copping another code violation tonight at the Shanghai Masters, during his 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 loss to Japan’s Kei Nishikori.

The world number two dropped serve in the first game of the match but was rarely troubled by the American in his first outing since GB’s Davis Cup semi-final victory over Australia on 20 September.

“But I knew if I could take the ball early a little bit more in the second set, try to be a little more patient”. It looked as though Johnson, fresh from a good three-set win over Andreas Seppi, was up for the battle, and he broke Murray in the first game.

Lahyani said the call was too tight to over-rule before advising Kyrgios to focus on the match after he’d dominated the opening set.

However, with the score at 5-4 to Murray, Johnson allowed the Scot to break, with an overhit forehand giving him the set and the match.

Come the crucial moment, however-Johnson serving to stay in the set-Murray produced a bit more magic with a lob over the net-racing Johnson for three break points, and a cracking return of serve drew one final error and victory, 6-4, in a tidy 76 minutes.

Fifth-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic also advanced with a 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-4 win over Jack Sock of the U.S., while 13th seed John Isner of the United States defeated Belgium’s David Goffin 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), and No. 12 Kevin Anderson beat Fabio Fognini of Italy 6-3, 7-6 (7/1). “I just hit it. I didn’t think it was worthy of a code [violation]”.

After the match Murray told Sky Sports: “I thought I played well. But I’ve played well against him in the past and hopefully I do again tomorrow”.

Fellow seeds Milos Raonic, Gilles Simon, Richard Gasquet, Feliciano Lopez are also through after beating Roberto Bautista Agut, Leonardo Mayer, Vasek Pospisil and Dominic Thiem respectively.

“I’m feeling better today than I did yesterday”.

Kyrgios protested: “I didn’t even hit anyone but it’s unsportsmanlike?” I think the first match is always very tough, to feel the conditions, the court. “But for me, that was a big positive in getting here early this year, that I’ve had five days to get used to it”, Federer added.

Tomic’s victory is a big blow to Ferrer’s hopes of qualifying for the eight-man season-ending championships but pushed the 22-year-old to within a win of his ninth quarter-final of the year.