Shanghai: Tenth seed Fernando Gonzalez reached the second round of the inaugural Shanghai Masters on Monday when German Mischa Zverev retired injured in the third set of a tight match.
The match was all square at 7-5, 6-7, 2-2 when the world No. 67 called an end to the contest because of what appeared to be a right wrist injury.
Gonzalez, the world No. 12, secured the first set with a superb backhand but mixed sublime shots with a string of feckless errors as the German's aggressive tactics paid off.
The 22-year-old Zverev first got treatment on his hand at 40-40 in the opening game of the third set and decided he could not continue three games later.
Chilean Gonzalez, one of a handful of players competing for the last three spots at the season-ending World Tour Finals, will play Brazilian qualifier Thomaz Bellucci in the second round.
American James Blake earlier set up a second meeting in a week with top seed Rafael Nadal by standing his ground against an onslaught of 27 aces from Croatian Ivo Karlovic to win their first-round match 3-6, 7-6, 6-3.
Blake lost an entertaining match against the world No.2 in Beijing last week and was under no misapprehensions about what he faces in the second round in China's financial capital.
"I know how difficult it is to play him," the New Yorker told reporters. "I know how much he makes you run, how hard he makes you work, how great defense he plays. I know what I'm in for, and I'll just prepare same way I did last week, just ... make sure my legs are fresh and ... be ready to face one of the best in the world."
Qualifier Lukasz Kubot spurned a chance to reacquaint himself with Andy Roddick, who he beat at the China Open last week.
Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka came from behind to beat the Pole 2-6, 7-6, 7-6 in a three-hour match and will play the American fourth seed in the second round.
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