Tennis News

Bopanna & Dodig win opener in Shanghai

Fifth seeds Rohan Bopanna and Ivan Dodig registered a comfortable 6-4, 6-3 win over Pedro Martinez and Pablo Carreno Busta to advance to the second round at the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Friday.

After crashing in the opening round at the China Open last week, The Indo-Croatian duo raced to victory in one hour and three minutes on Court 6 in their first win as partners this year.

The pair dropped serve once, fired five aces, and saved four break points against their Spanish opponents. They also converted three break points.

They are set to face Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic or #NextGenATP Frenchman Arthur Fils and Ben Shelton in the next round.

Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev stunned seventh seeds Neal Skupski and Michael Venus 7-5, 7-5 in one hour and 25 minutes in the first match on Court 7.

In the following match, Santiago Gonzalez and Edouard Roger-Vasselin raced to a quick 6-2, 6-2 win against Alexander Bublik and Frances Tiafoe. The pair made 90 per cent of first serves and saved one break point to seal the match in 49 minutes.

Eighth seeds Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram were tested by Brazilians Rafael Matos and Marcelo Melo. After losing the first set, the Americans staged a comeback and won 4-6, 6-3, 14-12 in one hour and 24 minutes. They will next face Gonzalez & Roger-Vasselin.

Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni were also pushed to three sets by Hugo Nys and Jan Zielinski. The Argentines won 7-6(4), 4-6, 10-6 in one hour and 52 minutes.

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Etcheverry defeats van de Zandschulp in the longest match in Shanghai history

Tomas Martin Etcheverry defeated Botic van de Zandschulp in the longest match in Rolex Shanghai Masters history on Friday. Playing the last match on Court 4, the Argentine won 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-5 in three hours and 43 minutes to advance to the third round.

They surpassed the previous record set last year by Marton Fucsovics and Felix Auger-Aliassime, where the Hungarian defeated the Canadian in three hours and 23 minutes in the second round.

Before that, the record was held by Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray when the Serb emerged victorious in three hours and 21 minutes in the 2012 championship match.

With the win, the No. 31 seed extended his lead to 2-0 over van de Zandschulp in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

He will face either World No.1 Jannik Sinner or Taro Daniel of Japan.

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How Rublev’s Live Race outlook shifts after Ruud’s Shanghai upset

Can Andrey Rublev qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the fifth consecutive year?

The 26-year-old is well positioned to do so and after Casper Ruud was upset Friday at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, Rublev has a chance this fortnight to improve upon his current seventh position in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. Ruud leads Rublev by just 225 points.

Should Rublev reach his fourth ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final of the season, he would be within striking distance of passing sixth-placed Ruud. But Rublev will need a semi-final run in Shanghai to leapfrog the Norwegian.

PIF ATP Live Race To Turin (as of 4 October)

^{*Sinner, Alcaraz and Zverev have secured qualification.}

Daniil Medvedev is aiming to become the next player to secure qualification for the season finale. The 28-year-old is fourth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin while the three players ahead of him have already qualified: Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev.

US Open finalist Taylor Fritz is well placed to earn his spot at the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time. The American, sixth in the Race, played the event in 2022 as an alternate.

Alex de Minaur is not competing in Shanghai, providing a path for Novak Djokovic to slide up to eighth should the Serbian win his opening match at the ATP Masters 1000 event.

Grigor Dimitrov is enjoying a resurgent year that has placed him 10th in the Race. The Bulgarian won the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals with a 5-0 record, but has not been back to the eight-player event since. To start 2024, Dimitrov won his first title (Brisbane) since that Nitto ATP Finals stunner. He also reached the Miami final.

American Tommy Paul has an opportunity to qualify for Turin for the first time. The 11th-placed Paul has earned two titles this season (Dallas, Queen’s Club).

With only two ATP Masters 1000 tournaments remaining this year, Stefanos Tsitsipas will look to make ground starting in Shanghai, where he beat former No. 4 Kei Nishikori on Friday. The Greek, 12th in the Race, is seeking to qualify for Turin for the sixth consecutive year.

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Sinner: I wake up in the morning trying to understand how to beat Alcaraz

Many tennis players dream of reaching the top of the PIF ATP Rankings, envisioning ‘World No. 1’ next to their name. They wake up and train countless hours, chasing the opportunity to become the best in the sport. For Jannik Sinner, that dream has become a reality this season, but the Italian believes there’s still room for growth.

The 23-year-old has been the most dominant player in 2024, having won six tour-level titles and 59 matches. But Sinner has a barometer for further improvement. He has lost three consecutive matches against Carlos Alcaraz, who leads their Lexus ATP Head2Head series 6-4.

The top seed at this week’s Rolex Shanghai Masters, Sinner is finding motivation from his rivalry with the Spaniard.

“I feel like — at least talking from my side — he pushes me to do better. I wake up in the morning trying to understand what I can do better trying to beat him next time, which is something nice for me as a player,” Sinner told ATP Media. “It’s nice that we are rivals on the court and then friends off the court.”

Sinner’s rivalry with Alcaraz has rapidly blossomed into one of the most gripping matchups in recent memory. Anytime they meet, it is almost a guarantee for exciting shotmaking and a display of world-class court coverage. Such was the case in Wednesday’s China Open final, which Alcaraz narrowly won in a third-set tie-break. The back-and-forth contest thrilled Beijing fans for three hours and 21 minutes.

Could a rematch happen in Shanghai? Sinner and Alcaraz are seeded to meet in the semi-finals. Even in the midst of a fierce on-court rivalry, the two remain close friends.

“I feel like off the court we are quite similar because we are surround ourself with our close ones, we like to stay with the team. There are many, many similar things. On the court, we are different,” Sinner said. “He is the one who brings the firepower, the hot shots, he involves the crowd. He’s a bit different. I am more like the solid player, quite calm, so it’s like fire and ice a bit. But it’s a nice combination.

“It also shows that everyone is different. I believe that I have to take something from him as a player, trying some different shots sometimes, which I feel like makes me grow as a player.”

Making his second appearance in Shanghai, Sinner will look to improve upon his fourth-round run last year. A lot has changed for the 16-time tour-level titlist in the past 12 months. Not only has he become World No. 1, Sinner has also claimed two ATP Masters 1000 titles (Miami, Cincinnati) and as many major trophies (Australian Open, US Open).

“The confidence level is in a different moment now. I feel like when I go on court, I feel more safe on the court,” Sinner said. “Playing on a centre court now, let’s say, it’s normal. Before, it was still something new and this, ‘Wow’ effect when you go out. Now, it’s still amazing, but I enjoy it more. It’s a place where I feel very, very safe.”

Sinner is aiming to become the first player to win three ATP Masters 1000 titles in one season since Rafael Nadal in 2018. Should he lift his fourth ATP Masters 1000 crown, Sinner would join Novak Djokovic (2015) as the only player to win Shanghai while holding World No. 1 honours.

“I am at a good level now, but we will always try and aim for something more,” said Sinner, who faces Taro Daniel in the opening round.

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Group stage of Davis Cup Finals scrapped

The group stage of the Davis Cup Finals is scrapped and replaced by a return to home or away ties.

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Muchova ends Sabalenka streak to reach China Open semis

Karolina Muchova resists a fightback from number one seed Aryna Sabalenka to reach the semi-finals of the China Open.

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Sinner 'surprised' by World Anti-Doping Agency appeal

World number one Jannik Sinner says he is “surprised” by the World Anti-Doping Agency’s appeal against the decision to clear him of blame after he twice tested positive for a banned substance.

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ATP's OneVision strategy powers record player compensation surge in 2023

The ATP has confirmed record player compensation for the 2023 season, following the completion of the ATP Masters 1000 profit-sharing calculation, a key element of its OneVision strategic plan.

A total of $241.6 million was distributed to players across the ATP Tour and ATP Challenger Tour through On-Site Prize Money, Performance Bonus Pools, and Player Retirement Plan contributions. An additional $104.5 million in Grand Slam men’s prize money brought total men’s compensation to an unprecedented $346.2 million for the year.

ATP-associated events accounted for 70 per cent of overall men’s player compensation, with 30 per cent coming from the Grand Slams.

The ATP Masters 1000 events, in particular, saw substantial increases under OneVision reforms. On-Site Prize Money at ATP’s top-tier tournaments rose to $70.4 million, up from $55.6 million in 2022, driven by the expansion to 96-player draws at Madrid, Rome and Shanghai (which was not held in 2022 due to the pandemic). The bigger draw sizes provide more money to more players, aligning with ATP’s goal of increasing the number of players who can make a sustainable living from tennis.

The Masters 1000 Fixed Bonus Pool, paid out according to performance and participation across the category, rose to $20 million in 2023. Meanwhile, the profit-sharing model, first introduced in 2022, will deliver an additional $6.6 million to players through the Variable Bonus Pool for 2023. The calculation, based on detailed financial audits of all nine Masters 1000 tournaments, ensures that profits generated by the events — above on-site prize money — are shared equally, with 50 per cent allocated to players.

Total player compensation across the ATP Masters 1000 events and the Nitto ATP Finals, including Bonus Pools, reached $112 million. Combined with the Grand Slams ($104.5 million), the sport’s 14 biggest events delivered $216.5 million in men’s player compensation for the year.

ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi commented: “Through OneVision, our goal is clear: to align the interests of players and tournaments, strengthen premium events, enhance the fan experience, and drive long-term growth for the entire sport. We are unlocking new investment and laying the foundation for a true partnership between players and tournaments, sharing equally in tennis’s success.

“This is just the beginning, and we continue to work with other entities in tennis on a shared vision for the sport’s future. We remain committed to advocating for unified governance, fair player representation, and a centralised commercial strategy — all with the aim of providing a better experience for fans.”

OneVision has also driven unprecedented investments in tournament infrastructure across the Masters 1000 category, highlighted by multi-million-dollar renovation projects in Cincinnati, Madrid, Rome, and Shanghai. In Paris, the Rolex Paris Masters will relocate to La Défense Arena in 2025.

Elsewhere, a new $1.3 million Bonus Pool was also introduced for the ATP 500 category, further enhancing player earnings. The ATP 500 tournaments will also undergo full financial audits in 2024 with a view to moving to a profit-sharing formula in future years.

On the ATP Challenger Tour, prize money surged 75 per cent, reaching $21.2 million in 2023, alongside a 170 per cent increase in the number of Challenger 100 and 125 events on offer to players. 

The ATP Player Retirement Plan distributed approximately $19 million to 165 eligible players in 2023, following a record year in 2022 ($28 million) that was driven in part by the transfer sales of the Madrid and Cincinnati tournaments. 

The 2024 player compensation levels will be released in 2025, following a comprehensive financial audit of this year’s nine ATP Masters 1000 events, which will determine the profit-sharing calculation for 2024.

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Swiatek splits with coach Wiktorowski

Iga Swiatek, the world number one, announces split with coach Tomasz Wiktorowski.

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'Evolving' Shelton plays it cool in Shanghai win vs. Shapovalov

Ben Shelton improved to 11-0 in his opening rounds at the ATP Masters 1000s and Grand Slams this season with a strong showing against Denis Shapovalov on Friday at the Rolex Shanghai Masters. The 21-year-old American did not face a break point in a 6-3, 7-5 victory that improved him to 3-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head against the Canadian qualifier.

All three of those meetings have come this season, with Shelton previously winning in five sets at Wimbledon and advancing via retirement in a close Washington contest. Shapovalov changed up his tactics in Shanghai, but he could not change the result.

“I think some of the tendencies and things that I expected, he changed it up today,” Shelton said, referring to his opponent’s serving patterns and directional play from the baseline. “I was looking for a few things and was surprised by some of the things he did on the court.”

The American was in control throughout the one-hour, 17-minute match and made it a point to stay even-keeled on the stadium court, forgoing some of the boisterous celebrations fans have grown accustomed to seeing when Shelton puts on a show.

“I’m trying to work on being a little bit more calm and focused on the court,” he explained. “I think that it’s important for my evolution, and in the evolution of my game, that I continue to be able to focus for extended periods of time and and really lock in to play at a higher level for more than one set. I thought I did a great job of that today. I’m happy with the way that I stayed committed to my game style and stayed focused out there.”

Shelton missed out on two break chances at 4-4 in the second set but quickly made amends by breaking for the second time on the day at 5-5, a Shapovalov miss on a serve-and-volley attempt sealing his fate. The American hit 21 winners in the match according to Infosys ATP Stats, mixing in deft touch and nine net approaches to go along with his trademark power plays. He executed two successful drop shots to hold for 5-2 in the opening set, stretching for a tough volley winner to back up the first.

Shelton will next meet 21st seed Arthur Fils or Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena. He could see a Shanghai rematch with Jannik Sinner in the last 16, one year after beating the Italian in a third-set tie-break in what was their first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.

Tommy Paul also opened his Shanghai campaign with an early Friday win, beating Fabio Fognini 6-1, 6-3 in an hour flat. The result earned Paul his 40th win for the second consecutive season, after notching 41 victories in 2023. Eleven of his wins this season have come at the ATP Masters 1000s, highlighted by his semi-final runs in Indian Wells and Rome.

Other early action saw Alexandre Muller upset 18th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-2 and 19th seed Alejandro Tabilo beat Arthur Rinderknech 6-3, 6-2.

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