By Tennis Now | Monday, October 8, 2018
American qualifier Bradley Klahn stunned a lethargic-looking Nick Kyrgios, while Borna Coric beat wild card Stan Wawrinka for the first time in four meetings.
Photo credit: Rolex Shanghai Masters
Shanghai is still a tennis Bermuda Triangle for Nick Kyrgios.
American qualifier Bradley Klahn cracked 18 aces stunning a lethargic Kyrgios, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, at the Rolex Shanghai Masters.
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Klahn, who started the season ranked No. 214 and has risen to his current rank of 104, joined qualifying compatriots Mackenzie McDonald and Taylor Fritz as well as 2017 Wimbledon semifinalist Sam Querrey in reaching the second round.
It was Kyrgios' third loss in his last four matches and marked the third straight year he slumped to a dispiriting defeat in Shanghai.
A year ago, the enigmatic Aussie retired after dropping the opening-set tiebreak to American Steve Johnson.
Two years ago, Kyrgios was fined $16,500 for violating the ATP code of conduct after failing to compete at times in the final set of a 6-3, 6-1 loss to Mischa Zverev.
The ATP fined Kyrgios the maximum $10,000 for "lack of best efforts," $5,000 for verbal abuse of a spectator and $1,500 for unsportsmanlike conduct after Kyrgios tanked points in his straight-sets loss to 110th-ranked German qualifier.
Klahn, who defeated Tennys Sandgren and Taro Daniel to qualify for the main draw, broke at love for a 2-0 third-set lead when Kyrgios pushed forehand into middle of the net.
Slapping shots without much patience or purpose, Kyrgios hit a few one-handed backhands and even tried the SABR on the American's first serve.
The 38th-ranked Kyrgios made a stab volley for his first hold of the final set. Klahn answered curling a short backhand over the high part of the net into the corner.
That shot helped him hold for 4-1. Klahn competed with more intensity and energy in a 77-minute victory advancing to a second-round clash with Borna Coric.
The 13th-seeded Coric conquered wild card Stan Wawrinka, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
It was Coric's first week in four meetings with the three-time Grand Slam champion.
The 21-year-old Croatian has beaten both Swiss superstars Roger Federer and Wawrinka this season. Coric upset Federer in the Halle final in June.
American qualifiers made their mark in Shanghai today.
McDonald withstood 23 aces from big-serving Milos Raonic in toppling the 14th-seeded Canadian, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3, to set up a second-round meeting with Roberto Bautista Agut, a 6-3, 6-4, victor over Andrey Rublev.
Fritz fought off Robin Haase, 6-3, 7-6 (3), and will face Querrey next.
Querrey dropped just five points on his first serve powering past ninth-seeded Diego Schwartzman, 6-3, 6-4.
Stefanos Tsitsipas subdued Gael Monfils, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-4, in a match that featured electric exchanges like this one.
Rogers Cup runner-up Tsitsipas moves into a second-round match with Karen Khachanov.
The Russian ripped 17 aces and saved three of four break points in 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Steve Johnson.