Djokovic overcomes injury scare to advance at Shanghai Masters; Federer also through
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Novak Djokovic survived a scare when he landed awkwardly on his right foot but recovered for a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Spain's Marcel Granollers in the Shanghai Masters on Wednesday.
Roger Federer had fewer problems in his second-round match, rebounding from an early break to defeat Andreas Seppi of Italy 6-4, 6-3.
Djokovic hit a running backhand in the first game of the second set and then leaped in the air, wincing in pain. He called for a medical timeout after the game to have his foot wrapped and appeared slightly tentative after returning to the court, not bothering to chase after a couple of shots.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Serb dominated the rest of the match, however, closing it out in 70 minutes to set up a third-round match with Italian Fabio Fognini, who advanced when Spaniard Tommy Robredo retired with a wrist injury while trailing 7-6 (3), 2-1.
Djokovic said the problem wasn't serious, without elaborating about where specifically he felt the pain.
"It was just an awkward movement," he said. "I was running and I made a quick movement that caused a sharp pain. It's all good now."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Federer, the fifth seed, had more unforced errors (29) than winners (19) in his first match since a fourth-round loss at the U.S. Open, but he made quick work of the 22nd-ranked Seppi.
He next plays Frenchman Gael Monfils, with a possible quarterfinal with Djokovic looming.
Fourth-seeded Tomas Berdych rebounded from a back injury sustained in the semifinals of the China Open last week to defeat Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (5), 6-2. He said after his last match he could barely stand or walk when he retired against Rafael Nadal.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I wouldn't say (my back is) 100 percent, but I decided I was competitive enough to go on court and try to play," he said. "Looks like it was a smart decision."
Juan Martin del Potro fought through pain, as well, though his was from illness, not injury. He overcame a fever and 50 winners from big-hitting German Philipp Kohlschreiber to advance 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4).
After the match, del Potro said he started feeling sick on Tuesday night and relied on his serve to win the match because running was difficult.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Argentine withdrew from the doubles to rest for his next match against 11th-seeded Tommy Haas, a 6-4, 6-4 winner over German compatriot Daniel Brands.
"Maybe tomorrow I will be feeling better. I hope so, because my match is going to be harder than today," he said.
Both del Potro and Berdych have a lot to play for this week — they're trying to wrap up their spots in the elite ATP Finals in London, a task made slightly easier by the withdrawal on Wednesday of Andy Murray, who is recovering from back surgery.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Del Potro and Berdych would make the eight-man field by making the final in Shanghai.
Federer needs to do a bit more work — he's in seventh place in the standings, with a number of players within striking distance.
In other matches, seventh-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga advanced with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Spain's Pablo Andujar, while American John Isner was ousted by Argentine Carlos Berlocq 6-4, 7-6 (4).
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Nadal, the new No. 1, played late Wednesday.