CRI听力: Safin, del Potro Out, Top Seeds In at Shanghai Masters 1000

Marat Safin ended his journey Wednesday, losing in three sets to Czech rival Tomas Berdych.

A warm brief farewell ceremony was held immediately after the match, to mark Safin's last visit to Shanghai as a tennis pro.

The Russian player, who got entry with a wild card, said he had never been loved as much elsewhere in the world.

"I never felt the same in any other country that has been so fanatic about it. It's really nice how they dedicate themselves to tennis and they're really great supporters."

Later, a wrist injury forced 3rd-seeded Juan Martin del Potro to retire from a match against Austrian Jurgen Melzer.(www.hXen.com)
Del Potro thus became the second seed to retire from the tournament after Andy Roddick.

That dealt another heavy blow to ticket sales which had already suffered from the absence of World No. 1 Roger Federer and No.3 Andy Murray.

Yang Yibin is Deputy General Manager of Shanghai-based New Sports and Entertainment Company, a co-organizer of the event.

He admits that sales have been difficult so far.

"Ticket sales on the first days did not look very good, but that is normal for an event on its first year. You need to look at the long-term prospect. We will continue to cultivate our customer base, providing those who come here to watch games with first-class service, such as the catering service and so on. We want to give them nice experience here, because that will keep them coming back."

But next autumn when spectators come back, they will definitely see fewer veteran players who used to dominate the Qizhong complex at past Masters Cups.

Earlier Wednesday on the Center Court, unseeded Lleyton Hewitt, who won the ATP Masters Cup here in 2002, lost to French Gael Monfils in three sets.

He was the first man to win an annual ATP Champion Race in Shanghai.

Actually, with Federrer missing out the whole event, Roddick dropping out middway, and Juan Carlos Ferrero defeated at the first round, the so-called "New Balls Please" generation of players had been wiped out from the Qizhong venue before the third round even started.

Their fall, of course, was accompanied, if not directly caused, by the rise of the new blood, including top seed Rafael Nadal who just advanced to the last 16 after defeating American James Blake in three sets.

He is joined by 2nd-seeded Novak Djokovoc of Serbia who had a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Italian Fabio Fognini.

Damin, CRI news, Shanghai.