Shanghai: Andy Roddick enjoyed an easy ride into the second round of the Shanghai Masters as German Philipp Kohlschreiber was unable to continue in a 6-3, 2-1 victory for the American tenth seed.
"We've all been on the bad side of having to pull out of a match, it's not fun," said Roddick, who lost his opening match here in 2009 and has tumbled out of the top 10.
"But I thought I hit the ball well in what we did play today. I started to hit pretty well last week also, even though I lost the match to Gaël (Monfils in Tokyo).”
"I'm glad that I can get through today and keep trying to build on it."
Chinese tennis showed robust health as unheralded Bai Yan, number 465 in the world, upset veteran Czech Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-4 to move into a match with fourth seed Andy Murray.
Bai, 21, is riding high from titles at a pair of low-level Chinese Future events in recent weeks while Murray is struggling to escape another slump after a quarter-final loss last week in Beijing against Ivan Ljubicic.
"I'll just do my best job and give my best performance," said Bai. "All I know is that I can probably put him under some pressure."
Bai has watched Murray numerous times on television, even if the Scot will likely have no idea who his opponent is.
"He's a talented player, much better than me, I think. But I hope to learn from him in our match and I think it will be a good opportunity for me," said Bai.
Bai's only other ATP appearance came in Beijing two years ago, when he lost in the first round to Japan's Go Soeda.
Wimbledon marathon man John Isner meanwhile made a recovery, sending over 24 aces in a defeat of Lukasz Kubot 4-6, 7-6 (11/9), 7-6 (9/7).
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, October 12, 2010, 22:54