Rafael Nadal began his China Open campaign, but not everything was going to plan for the world No.1…
First he lost his shoe.
???????????? @RafaelNadal#ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/yI9Xaj5V4e
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 3, 2017
Then almost lost his round one match.
After saving two match points, he got past Frenchman Lucas Pouille in three sets.
"Was so close, no? He had two match points, one of them with an easy forehand more or less. But it's like this." #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/ImBRq6HPya
— China Open (@ChinaOpen) October 3, 2017
Nick Kyrgios did it much easier in his win over Nikoloz Basilashvili:
Tweener-ing into Tuesday like…#ChinaOpen @NickKyrgios pic.twitter.com/joDsO7hBAX
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 3, 2017
Karolina Pliskova is finding form, overcoming former world No.9 Andrea Petkovic.
No.4 seed @KaPliskova takes out Petkovic 6-4, 6-4!
Advances to @ChinaOpen Third round! pic.twitter.com/9jlQewhubp
— WTA (@WTA) October 3, 2017
World No.2 Simona Halep advanced via retirement.
Rybarikova retires due to illness.@Simona_Halep advances to @ChinaOpen Third round! pic.twitter.com/LSAapw991g
— WTA (@WTA) October 3, 2017
Grigor Dimitrov needed three sets to beat Damir Dzumhur, but was happy with the end result.
Thumbs up if you're happy with your result. #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/S4hp1DLcZX
— China Open (@ChinaOpen) October 3, 2017
Petra Kvitova is into the third round.
.@Petra_Kvitova sets @ChinaOpen Third round vs @CaroWozniacki!
No.12 seed navigates past Lepchenko 6-4, 6-4! pic.twitter.com/SXfee2Whg6
— WTA (@WTA) October 3, 2017
Agnieszka Radwanska survived against local hope Zhang Shuai.
Defending champion @ARadwanska marches on past Zhang Shuai 7-5, 7-5! #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/IWkShinfT5
— WTA (@WTA) October 3, 2017
Finally, second seed Alexander Zverev scored a late-night win over Brit Kyle Edmund.
There it is. Alex Zverev is through to the #ChinaOpen second round with a 6-3 7-6(3) win over Kyle Edmund. Fabio Fognini next… pic.twitter.com/KYPPvQnEn3
— China Open (@ChinaOpen) October 3, 2017
Now it’s time to get excited about day five, which features two not-to-be-missed clashes…
Maria Sharapova v Simona Halep, a rematch of a US Open first round epic last month.
Sharapova on Halep: We know each other's games very well… They've always been very challenging, tough, competitive, emotional. #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/UI2HqFYNH0
— China Open (@ChinaOpen) October 3, 2017
Two fan favourites Grigor Dimitrov and Juan Martin del Potro are also set to play.
"To have Dimitrov in the second round is not easy for me… could be a quarterfinal, semifinal or final. I have to be ready." #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/CyzlU0GWNX
— China Open (@ChinaOpen) October 3, 2017
24 November 2016
Novak Djokovic is the fastest tennis player on the planet, according to new data from Tenn... More
1 June 2016
Comparing tennis today to the game of the past is like comparing a boxer and fencer. There... More
15 September 2016
The greatest champions, goes the old adage, are those who leave their sport better than th... More
24 May 2016
With all eyes on the red clay of Roland Garros, there's plenty that club players can do to... More