SHANGHAI MASTERS: Coric ousts Wawrinka, Klahn stuns Kyrgios

SHANGHAI: Croatian Borna Coric recovered from a set down to beat three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the opening round of the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament on Monday.

Coric, who had failed to win a match in his last two appearances in Beijing and Shenzhen, saved two break points at 3-3 in the second set and clinched the first four games of the decider to record his 32nd match win of the season.

It was Coric’s first victory in four meetings against former world number three Wawrinka, who has struggled on his return from knee surgery this season and entered as a wildcard.

Coric, seeded 13th, will next face American qualifier Bradley Klahn, who claimed a hard-fought 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Nick Kyrgios.

The 23-year-old Australian Kyrgios lost five straight games from 4-4 in the second set to hand the momentum to Klahn.

World number 104 Klahn, who fired down 18 aces, recorded just his fourth tour-level win of the season.

Greek youngster Stefanos Tsitsipas, whose run to the quarter-finals in Tokyo last week was enough to book a place at the ATP Finals in November, opened his Shanghai campaign with a 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-4 win over Gael Monfils.

The 20-year-old broke the Frenchman’s serve twice in the decider to set up a second round meeting with Russian Karen Khachanov.

“I have improved a lot since last year physically, mentally,” said 10th seed Tsitsipas. “My game has changed. I am more aggressive now. I’m actually stronger. I feel stronger. My body has changed since last year.”

Canadian Milos Raonic suffered an early exit as the 2016 Wimbledon finalist lost to American qualifier Mackenzie McDonald 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.

Big-serving American Sam Querrey struck 14 aces on his way to a 6-3, 6-4 win over world number 16 Diego Schwartzman and set up a second round meeting against his compatriot Taylor Fritz, who beat Robin Haase 6-3, 7-6(3).