Murray ousts Dolgopolov in Shanghai Masters

Shanghai - Britain’s Andy Murray ousted Ukraine’s Alexander Dolgopolov in their third-round match at the Shanghai Masters here on Thursday.

It was the first game of the tournament for the defending champion and third seed who got a bye in the first round and saw second-round opponent Florian Mayer pull out through injury.

Dolgopolov, likely top seed for next week’s Kremlin Cup in Moscow, made 34 unforced errors to help the US Open champion to a 6-2, 6-2 triumph.

In the quarterfinals, Murray will face Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic.

Stepanek, ranked 41 in the world, defeated eighth seed John Isner of the United States in a three-set battle.

Despite Isner’s 17 aces and 41 winners, Stepanek managed to complete a 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3 win by limiting his unforced errors.

The tournament is the penultimate in the series of nine ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events.