Roger Federer suffers shock defeat at Shanghai Masters

Ramos-Vinolas got the first advantage, opened up a 5-2 lead, served big to bring up set points, and Federer hit a forehand wide to concede the set, 7-6(4). “Mentally I feel fresh, which is good”.

“I’m really happy to beat Roger Federer”, Ramos-Vinolas said.

Spanish qualifier Albert Ramos-Vinolas stunned defending champion Roger Federer in the second round of the 2015 Shanghai Rolex Masters.

Nadal, who had won an epic, five-set semi-final against Fernando Verdasco just a day earlier, did it all over again as he floored his great rival 7-5 3-6 7-6 (7/3) 3-6 6-2.

Speaking after the match, the 70th-ranked Spaniard found a “happy”, albeit unexpected, win in Shanghai. “I’m always cautious. I don’t underestimate or lack respect for anybody out there”. The 10th-seeded Frenchman reached the final in Shanghai previous year (l.to Federer) and goes on to face Leonardo Mayer for a place in the third round. Still Ramos-Vinolas played full-blooded, percentage tennis, stuck to his tactics, kept his serving on target, but Federer played more offensively and, as in the first set, seemed in control. “These are the kind of matches you want to win and then come out and improve on in your next match”.

Federer, afforded a first-round bye, had been absent from the ATP Tour since losing last month’s US Open final to Novak Djokovic and showed signs of rust, making 30 unforced errors against his world No 70 opponent. I didn’t play in any tournaments because I was very tired.

Murray is 17/5 to lose the first set and 33/10 to need three sets to get past Johnson in the first ever meeting between the pair. “That was a while back and that was not his favourite surface”, Federer told reporters. These guys are all touring professionals, they know what they’re doing.

Federer in his reaction said: “I had my chances. This year I didn t. So it s a pity”.

“I was aware that he could give me a tough workout and even beat me”.

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