Nadal outlasts Karlovic in third-set tiebreaker, Ferrer upset

Rafael Nadal went the maximum distance in his Shanghai Rolex Masters opener on Wednesday night, needing two hours and 43 minutes to outlast Ivo Karlovic 7-5, 6-7(4), 7-6(4).

A surprising first set featured three service breaks. Nadal trailed early but broke back twice, including at 6-5 to finish the opener in style. There were no breaks the rest of the match. The decisive moment and lone mini-break in the final-set tiebreaker came when Karlovic double-faulted at 4-4. Nadal promptly took care of his two service points and clinched victory in appropriate fashion–with a ripping forehand pass.

Next up for the Spaniard is Milos Raonic, who also prevailed in a third-set tiebreaker over Roberto Bautista Agut.

Highlights:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwHxECXjBbg]

Bernard Tomic joined Nadal and Raonic in the third round by upsetting World Tour Finals contender David Ferrer 6-4, 6-2. Ferrer had been coming off a title in Kuala Lumpur and a semifinal showing in Beijing, but he was no match for Tomic in this one.

“I’m very,very pleased,” the 22-year-old Australian assured. “I played very well. It was tough conditions; playing a very difficult player. It’s not easy when you step on court with him. This match is always tough. He’s in very good form. He won Malaysia, played well in Beijing. I knew I had to step on court and play the tennis I was playing like I did in Indian Wells against him. I thought I did a very good job of what I needed to do today.”

Fellow Aussie Nick Kyrgios came close to pulling off a surprise win of his own, but Kei Nishikori stormed from behind to advance 1-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Kyrgios became increasing frustrated as the match progressed and–as always–was not afraid to show his disdain for how things turned in his opponent’s favor. The 20-year-old delivered multiple audible obscenities and was hit by Mohamed Lahyani with a questionable unsportsmanlike conduct warning.

After dropping his first two service games, Nishikori did not face a single break point the entire rest of the way.

“I didn’t have the best start to this match today,” Nishikori assessed. “But I knew (could turn it around) if I could take the ball early a little bit more in the second set; try to be a little more patient. My serve wasn’t going in, especially in the beginning. I had three double-faults in the first game. My serve went well in the second and third sets.”

Tomic at the Kyrgios match:

Kyrgios with an audible obscenity:

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