The set would eventually go to a tie-break.
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Nadal reduced Federer to tears as he denied him a record-equalling 14th major title and won his first hardcourt grand slam trophy, completing his domination of the Swiss on all surfaces.
Defending champion Roger Federer flew to Shanghai for his first tournament since reaching the final of the US Open as one of the favourites for the title. He would go on to take the set with this thrilling point at 40-30 and he looked decidedly relieved to be back in the match as Ramos-Vinolas sends it long.
Ramos-Vinolas has been on a roll, albeit in lower-tier tournaments.
The second set was more like the Roger Federer many tennis fans would recognise, with two breaks in games five and seven enough to force a decider.
And Federer caused his own downfall in the final game as he netted a forehand to bring up match point, and then misfired a backhand return to leave a disbelieving Ramos-Vinolas saluting the crowd.
The second seed was beaten in three sets by the Spaniard to fall at the first hurdle after he received a bye in round one.
However, Roger would come out fighting in the second set and his power and precision was too much for the Spaniard, whose serve was broken twice.
The Barcelona-born player also celebrated his first victory over a top 10 opponent.
On paper, it was hard to see where Federer had gone wrong: 15 aces to six by Ramos-Vinolas; 45 winners to 22; 30 errors to 26; a high percentage on serve; and an impressive 25 points from 32 net rushes-though he used the ultra-confident “Sabr” move just once in the match.
“I like easy matches but there are no givens out there, and she came out and played the match of her life and that is what I have to be ready for all of the time”, Williams said.
16 seed Jo Wilfried Tsonga faces world No. 70 Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the third round of the Shanghai Masters on Thursday morning priced as bet365’s heavy 1/9 favourite to triumph.
“I don’t know if you know, but the name is really important”.
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In their only previous meeting, at Wimbledon 2012, Federer was a convincing 6-1 6-1 6-1 victor.
