Goffin Upsets Muller in Shanghai: Belgian Sets Up Clash with Shelton in Next Round

Despite winning the first set, Alexandre Muller stumbled against David Goffin in the first round of the Shanghai Masters.

In the opening round of the Shanghai Masters 1000, Alexandre Muller was the first French player to take the court. Facing David Goffin, the world No. 38 knew the task wouldn't be easy against the Belgian, ranked 87th globally.

The two had met at the same stage of the competition in Madrid earlier this season, where Goffin had to retire early in the third set. Muller started the match strongly. Although his opponent served for the first set, the Frenchman hung in, broke back, and eventually won the first set in a tiebreak after an hour of play, having saved a set point.

But Goffin eventually gained the upper hand. Throughout the match, the 2017 ATP Finals runner-up had more answers and ultimately pulled away decisively.

In the end, Goffin won in three sets (6-7, 6-1, 6-1 in 2 hours and 6 minutes) and advanced to the second round, where he will face Ben Shelton, who is returning to the tour after a shoulder injury at the US Open.

As for Muller, he suffers his sixth loss in his last eight matches and exits early in China. Last year, he fell to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the third round of the same tournament.