Once the US Open concludes, all but the most ardent fans stop paying attention to tennis.  American fans begin to pay attention to American football, either of the college or pro variety.  Indeed, one barely knows there’s tennis still being played.

Shanghai is the first Masters 1000 event after the US Open and as such, it brings with it a stellar draw.  Or at least, it should have.  Two of the top seeds, including world number 1 Roger Federer and world number 3 Andy Murray, didn’t even show up citing injury and/or fatigue.

Complaints were the order of the week.  Both Andy Roddick and Rafael Nadal complained about the length of the tennis season that requires players to play in 14 tournaments (9 Masters 1000, 4 Grand Slams, and the year-end World Tour finals).  Players need another 2 more tournaments to fill out their required schedule.  Of course, many players choose to play exhibitions and special event tournaments.  Nadal chose to play in Barcelona, which he won, but which wasn’t so necessary except out of obligation to his home country.

Shortly after the complaint, Andy Roddick retired in his match against the other Swiss, Stanislas Wawrinka.  Then, Juan Martin del Potro retired against Jurgen Melzer.  Finally, Tommy Haas retired against Rainier Schuettler, both 30-something German players.

Last week’s finalist in Beijing, Marin Cilic, fell in three sets to Tomas Berdych.  Cilic should have been riding high from his defeat of Rafael Nadal even despite his loss to Novak Djokovic.  It looked for all the world that he’d beat Berdych.  Berdych was down 2-4, 0-40 in the third set, but held.  He broke then was down 15-40 in his next serve, but held, then broke again, and served out the match.  Cilic is probably still wondering how he lost that one.

Berdych then followed up that victory by defeating Marat Safin in his final last hurrah tour.  Safin had been playing pretty good tennis in Shanghai, and again, had opportunities to win. At 4-all in the third, Safin got broken and then Berdych served out the match.  Afterwards, they made Safin hang around so they could show a video tribute with much to “Wild Thing” to a sparse Chinese crowd, who were nonetheless vocal about the retiring champ.  Safin seems almost relieved to be finally done with tennis.

Rafael Nadal, who took two breaks due to injury still had to work to win his match over James Blake, in three sets: 6-2, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4.  Djokovic, meanwhile seems to be having an easier time, winning easily over Italian, Fabio Fognini, 6-3, 6-1.  Djokovic finally seems a bit relaxed.  With Nadal still struggling, Federer and Murray taking time off, and del Potro having losses late in the season, Djokovic is trying to make a statement at the end of the year.

Gilles Simon is playing well again, beating Victor Troicki, twice in the last few weeks (once en route to winning Bangkok in the finals).  Soderling, Monfils, and Robredo also won.

After Shanghai, the tour moves back to Europe, which will eventually lead to the Paris Masters and the year-end championships in London.