Federer stunned, Djokovic in Shanghai final

China’s best to play Ukrainian teen for Hong Kong WTA title

SHANGHAI, Oct 13, (Agencies): Roger Federer was turfed out of the Shanghai Masters semifinals on Saturday by 13th-seeded Borna Coric, the Croatian stunning the Swiss great 6-4, 6-4. The 21-year-old Coric will face Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s final after the Serb thrashed Alexander Zverev 6-2, 6-1, leapfrogging Federer to number two in the world rankings.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion Federer has not been at his brilliant best all week, dropping sets in the two opening matches of his wobbly title defense.

The 37-year-old top seed was more like his old self on Friday, defeating eighth seed Kei Nishikori of Japan 6-4, 7-6 (7/4).

But he made a slow start against Coric, ranked 19 in the world, getting broken in the first game in an error-strewn performance. There was a subtle shake of the head when Federer similarly lost his serve at the start of the second set. In contrast, Coric – who is into his first Masters 1000 final – was largely untroubled on his serve. Federer won the Australian Open at the start of this year but has had a mediocre season by his skyhigh standards.

He exited the US Open in the last 16 at the hands of unheralded Australian John Millman, ranked 55th, and only made the quarter-finals at Wimbledon.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a return shot to Kevin Anderson of South Africa during their men’s singles quarter-final match in the Shanghai Masters tennis

tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China on Oct 12. (AP)

Coric, who has only two career titles to his name, has now beaten Federer twice – the previous time was in the final at Halle this year.

Djokovic will rise to number two in the world after he dismantled a shellshocked Alexander Zverev 6-2, 6-1 on Saturday to surge into the Shanghai Masters final.

He is desperate to take injured Rafael Nadal’s number one spot before the year is out, and on this evidence, he will.

The 31-year-old Serbian is in imperious form and this was his 17th ATP victory in a row, as he taught rising German star Zverev a harsh lesson.

Djokovic, who had elbow surgery in February but recovered to win Wimbledon and then the US Open Wang Qiang of China celebrates winning her women’s singles semifinal match against Garbine Muguruza of Spain at the Hong Kong Open tennis tournament on Oct 13.

(AFP)