Tennis: Wawrinka battles back for win

SHANGHAI:

Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka fought back to reach the second round of the Shanghai Masters with Germany’s Florian Mayer the only other winner on the opening night of action in the main draw.

Wawrinka beat Argentina’s Juan Monaco 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in a tough first-round encounter under lights at the Qi Zhong Tennis Centre.

Earlier, 15th-seed Mayer crushed Italy’s Fabio Fognini 6-0, 6-2 in just 48 minutes in front of a sparse crowd.

In a one-sided contest, Mayer allowed his dispirited opponent just five points in the first set and barely let up in the second, breaking twice to seal an emphatic victory.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 10^th, 2011.