ATP Shanghai Masters: British No 2 James Ward loses to Kevin Anderson in China

British qualifier James Ward made a first-round exit to South Africa's Kevin Anderson at the Shanghai Masters, going down 3-6 6-3 6-2.

Londoner Ward - ranked 119th in the world - trumped Russia's Viktor Troicki in straight sets on Sunday - and looked good early on, but Anderson used all his experience to hit back and triumph in one hour and 44 minutes.

British No 2 Ward went an early break down to the big-hitting South African, but immediately hit back and kept his composure to race away with the first set in 37 minutes on Grandstand.

But Anderson, who has climbed to a career-high 16th in the latest ATP Tour rankings, stemmed the tide by lifting his level and rhythm in the next to level things up following a crucial break in the sixth game.

The 28-year-old had cut down the number of unforced errors he was committing and began to dictate proceedings in the decider. He broke Ward's serve three times before closing out the win.

Anderson next faces Mikhail Kukushkin in round two after the Kazakh knocked out experienced Spaniard Tommy Robredo 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7-4).

Cilic shocked

Meanwhile, US Open champion and ninth seed Marin Cilic made a shock early exit from the tournament after losing a tight tussle against fellow Croatian Ivo Karlovic 7-5 2-6 7-6 (7-2).

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Cilic, sixth in the race to November's elite eight-player ATP Finals in London, dropped the first set but broke his opponent twice in the second to force a decider, yet Karlovic clinched the tie-breaker to seal victory in two hours and 16 minutes.

"It's a gamble with him," Cilic said of his compatriot. "He goes all in or nothing. It's always difficult.

"He was serving really well towards the end of the match. I couldn't get into his serve. It can happen with Ivo. It's always tricky.

"The game, I'm feeling it's on the spot. Though I lost today, it's unfortunate, bad luck, but I'm going with positive energy into the next weeks to finish the season well."

Big-serving American John Isner, the 13th seed, belted down 22 aces and won 71 per cent of his service points to beat Pablo Andujar 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 6-3.

"I'm still alive here," said Isner after his 38th win of the season. "I'm glad I'm not on a flight home tomorrow. It's all good. Playing better away from the States is something I'm always trying to do and I feel like it's something I've done so far."

Gasquet through

Frenchman Richard Gasquet defeated fellow countryman Jeremy Chardy 7-6 (9-7) 6-2 to set up a tantalising clash against Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych. The China Open runner-up received a first-round bye while Bulgarian 10th seed Grigor Dimitrov eased past Denis Istomin from Uzbekistan 6-3 6-3.

Jack Sock battled his way past Australian hope Bernard Tomic 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 in a match lasting just under two-and-a-half hours.

Marcel Granollers went down 6-3 6-7 (7-5) 6-2 to Taiwan's Lu Yen-Hsun while Argentine Juan Monaco downed Portuguese No 1 Joao Sousa 6-2 7-6 (7-4) to set up a meeting with eighth seed Milos Raonic. Donald Young departed China after losing to qualifier Malek Jaziri 7-5 6-4.

Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray are together in Shanghai for the first time since Wimbledon with British No 1 Murray in action against Teymuraz Gabashvili not before 11.30am (BST) on Tuesday.

Watch LIVE action of Murray's opening match against Gabashvili at the ATP Shanghai Masters on Sky Sports 3 HD from 6am on Tuesday morning.