SHANGHAI: Jack Sock of the US returns a shot against Kei Nishikori of Japan during the men\'s singles second round match of the Shanghai Masters Open Tennis at Qizhong Tennis Stadium here Wednesday. — AFP Photo SHANGHAI, Oct 8 (AFP): Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka crashed out of his second successive tournament at the first hurdle Wednesday, losing his Shanghai Masters opener after squandering a 3-0 lead in the final set.
It was a misery for the fourth seed in Shanghai, who was in need of a morale-boosting victory after his last outing resulted in a first round exit at the Japan Open to 103-ranked Tatsuma Ito.
The world number four started brightly in Shanghai, taking the first set in his tightly-fought battle with Gilles Simon of France.
But his 29th ranked opponent fought back aggressively to stay in the match and force a decider.
The Swiss 29-year-old broke serve at his first attempt in the final set with a ferocious smash shot.
He then appeared to be cruising, pounding his chest with his fist as he entered the third game, which he won after saving two break points. Simon, a former world number six, broke back at his next attempt and then forced his way to 3-3 in a marathon 10-minute game.
Wawrinka appeared to buckle under pressure three games later, meekly surrendering his serve without scoring a point before Simon marched to a 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 victory.
Meanwhile, seventh seed Kei Nishikori and 10th seed Grigor Dimitrov both crashed out in their opening matches.
The Japanese star looked injured during the closing stages of his 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 defeat to American Jack Sock, and received treatment with the scores at 4-3 in his opponent's favour.
The US Open finalist won his next service game, but appeared slightly in pain as he lost the next two, which ended his participation in the tournament.
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