Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round in Shanghai

(Shanghai) Felix Auger-Aliassime took advantage of the withdrawal of his opponent in the second round to pass the first round of the Shanghai Masters on Tuesday.

The Canadian Press

The Quebecer won the first run at the tiebreaker, 7-6 (5), before taking a 4-0 lead in the second run. That's where his opponent, Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, dropped out for a mysterious reason.

Auger-Aliassime, who points to 19^e ranking of the ATP, will not have the easy task in the second round; he will meet the sixth seed, the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, seventh racquet world. The Quebecer is 2-0 in career on the ATP circuit against Tsitsipas, having won earlier this year on cement at Indian Wells and on turf at Queen's Club. He has also defeated Tsitsipas in each of his three games in the junior ranks.

"We have to analyze each game separately," said Auger-Aliassime. It is not the same time anymore; he evolved, I evolved. That being said, it is obvious that there is a psychological aspect to it. It's a fact. But, again, I will approach every match in the same way as everyone else, and I will try to give everything and be ready for anything. "

His compatriot Vasek Pospisil, meanwhile, reached the third round after defeating Portugal's Joao Sousa 6-3, 7-5. Vancouvérois will face third-seeded Daniil Medvedev in the next round, easily defeating British No. 6 seed Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-1.

Denis Shapovalov of Richmond Hill, Ont., Will play Serbia's Novak Djokovic in the second round on Wednesday.

Federer passes …

Meanwhile, Roger Federer did not face the slightest break in his first game of the tournament, en route to a 6-2, 7-6 (5) win over Albert Ramos-Vinolas.

The second seed, who is trying to win the Shanghai Masters for the third time in his career, dominated the first set. He was, however, put to the test in the following round.

Federer struggled in a tiebreaker, briefly short of a 1-4 deficit, before bringing everyone back to square one. He also converted his only match point by shooting a volley in forehand cross.

"I was focused and I had a lot of energy, because sometimes, you know, when you travel around the world, you lose some energy," Federer said. Sometimes the first games and the first games can be dangerous.

"My service was sharp. I was precise, and I have never been in trouble. "

… but Murray breaks

Andy Murray got two match points against the 10^e top seed Fabio Fognini in the third set – but he eventually lost 7-6 (4), 2-6, 7-6 (2) in a match that stretched for more than three hours.

"I'm very disappointed right now," said Murray. I have to improve many aspects of my game, and I can be much better. I will go away for a while and work on it.

"I served for the game on two occasions and lost after three hours of play, so I can say that this is the first time in my career that it has happened to me. "

Meanwhile, Russia's Andrey Rublev surprised Croatian Borna Coric 6-4, 7-6 (4) in the first round. Coric, the 12^e seeded, had been a finalist last year in Shanghai.

Two Americans – 16^e John Isner and Reilly Opelka – also took the first lap.

Isner has ousted Australian Alex De Minaur 7-6 (1), 6-4, while Opelka took the measure of Serbian Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-4.

Italian Matteo Berrettini, who reached his first round of ace in a Grand Slam tournament last month at the US Open, thrashed German Jan-Lennard Struff 6-2, 6-1.

This was his 36^e victory of the campaign. He has won 30 games since his previous victory against Struff on April 22.

– With the Associated Press