(Sports news, tennis news) Today’s competition day of the Shanghai Masters saw the top 4 seeds Sinner, Zverev, Alcaraz and Djokovic all compete.
Alcaraz – Shang Juncheng, 11:30, October 5, round 2
Alcaraz just won the China Open a few days ago, after defeating his arch-rival Sinner in the final. That will be a great motivation for the Spanish tennis player to conquer the ATP 1000 tournament in Shanghai. However, Alcaraz will have to overcome his “curse” this season. That is, he has never won 2 consecutive tournaments in the past 9 months. The China Open is also the first title of “Little Nadal” since the US Open.
The tournament’s top four seeds all compete today.
The Shanghai Masters is also one of four ATP 1000 tournaments in Alcaraz’s career that he has never reached the quarterfinals. This shows that the difficulty will be great for the third seed of the tournament. Alcaraz’s draw is considered difficult, as he will have to face Sinner in the semi-finals. Therefore, winning quickly in the outer rounds to save energy is necessary for Alcaraz.
Alcaraz’s opponent in the second round is home player Shang Juncheng, ranked 51st in the ATP. In all aspects, Shang has no chance to compare with Alcaraz. The Spaniard is also temporarily leading 1-0 in the head-to-head score after a relatively easy victory at the Australian Open earlier this year.
Sinner’s opening match opponent is ATP 93rd ranked Taro Daniel. The gap in skill and class between the two players is very clear. It will be difficult for the Japanese opponent to create a surprise in this match.
Djokovic – Michelsen, 5:30 p.m., October 5, round 2
Defending Olympic champion Novak Djokovic will return to the Shanghai Masters after a five-year absence, an event that has attracted special attention from fans. Djokovic’s presence will not only raise the level of the tournament but also bring great expectations from the audience.
Currently, Djokovic no longer places much importance on winning or losing or on achievements. After winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, he approaches each tournament with a relaxed mindset, considering it a “walk in the park”. However, this does not mean that Djokovic will compete without determination. With the status of a legend in the tennis world, he understands that he cannot “lose points” before the expectations of fans.
In his opening match, Djokovic will face 43rd-ranked ATP player Michelsen. If he plays to his full potential, victory will be within reach of the tournament’s fourth seed.
In addition to Djokovic, second seed Alexander Zverev will also play tonight at 7pm. The “German Prince” will face Italian player Belucci, who is considered a fairly easy challenge. Zverev needs to play at his best to ensure a smooth start.
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