Tennis News

Djokovic returns, Sinner & Alcaraz lead the way in Shanghai: Scouting Report

The best players in the world are ready to take on the ATP Masters 1000 event of the Asian Swing, the Rolex Paris Masters.

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz lead the way, while all eyes will be on Novak Djokovic’s return to tournament action. ATPTour.com looks at 10 things to watch in Shanghai.

1) Djokovic back in action: The Serbian, who played one Davis Cup match the week after the US Open, is playing his first tournament since the season’s final major, where he suffered a stunning third-round exit. Djokovic is a four-time champion in Shanghai, where he will try to climb into a Nitto ATP Finals qualifying position. The ninth-placed player in the PIF ATP Live Race will take on Buyunchaokete or #NextGenATP American Alex Michelsen in his opening match.

2) Sinner surging: The No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings has found a hot stretch of form, winning the Cincinnati Open, US Open and reaching the final in Beijing, where he will face Alcaraz. With six titles to his name this year, the Italian will try to add a Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 crown to his resume. Sinner will open against Taro Daniel or a qualifier. He could face Medvedev, Alcaraz and Djokovic during his run.

3) Alcaraz in form: The Spaniard has won two major titles this year at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and shows no signs of slowing down. But the 21-year-old will need to be sharp from the start in Shanghai, where he debuted last year. Alcaraz will play a #NextGenATP opponent, Shang Juncheng or Coleman Wong, in the second round.

4) Medvedev former champ: Before the Covid-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of three consecutive editions of the Rolex Shanghai Masters, Medvedev lifted the trophy in 2019. The fifth seed has not yet won a title this season, but will keen to change that in China. He will play Thiago Seyboth Wild or a qualifier in the second round.

5) Chinese stars: Chinese men’s tennis is thriving more than ever. Zhang Zhizhen reached a career-high World No. 31 in July, Shang Juncheng claimed his first ATP Tour title just more than a week ago in Chengdu and Buyunchaokete is playing the best tennis of his life, having made his first tour-level semi-final in Hangzhou and another semi-final in Beijing. Wu Yibing, who became the first Chinese ATP Tour singles champion last year in Dallas, and Zhou Yi will also be in action.

6) Fils headlines #NextGenATP stars competing: Arthur Fils is the first-placed player in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah and he brings momentum to Shanghai after claiming the title in Tokyo. The Frenchman plays Roberto Bautista Agut or Roberto Carballes Baena in the second round. Other #NextGenATP players to watch include Shang, Michelsen and Jakub Mensik, who begins his tournament against Pedro Martinez.

7) PIF ATP Live Race To Turin: Medvedev is next in line to qualify for the season finale, with Sinner, Alcaraz and Zverev already locked into a Turin spot. Behind Medvedev are fifth seed Taylor Fritz, sixth seed Casper Ruud and seventh seed Andrey Rublev, the 2023 Shanghai finalist, who will all try to consolidate their standing. Eighth-placed Alex de Minaur is out with injury, opening the door for the likes of Djokovic to shake up the Live Race.

8) Nishikori, Wawrinka among wild cards: Former Top 5 stars Kei Nishikori and Stan Wawrinka are among the wild cards at the season’s eighth Masters 1000 event. Nishikori made the semi-finals in 2011 and Wawrinka is a two-time Shanghai quarter-finalist. Wong, Wu and Zhou are the other three singles wild cards.

9) Other players to watch: There are plenty of other players who will bring momentum to the Rolex Shanghai Masters. Sixteenth seed Humbert reached the final in Tokyo and will play Arthur Cazaux or Marin Cilic in the second round. Cilic just won a title in Hangzhou. Thirtieth seed Tomas Machac has been enjoying the best season of his career and just made the semi-finals in Tokyo. Ninth seed Grigor Dimitrov is trying to work his way into contention for a place at the Nitto ATP Finals, the event he won in 2017.

10) Tsitsipas Brothers, Fils/Shelton playing doubles: Marcel Granollers/Horacio Zeballos and Marcelo Arevalo/Mate Pavic are the top two seeds in the doubles draws, but there will be no shortage of interesting teams to watch. Stefanos Tsitsipas is competing with his brother, Petros Tsitsipas, Fils is partnering Ben Shelton, Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev are playing together as are Alexander Bublik and Frances Tiafoe.

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Alcaraz sees off Medvedev to set up Sinner final

Carlos Alcaraz will play Jannik Sinner in the China Open final after cruising past Daniil Medvedev in straight sets.

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Sinner sets Alcaraz blockbuster in Beijing final

The most gripping Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry of the moment will add another chapter on Wednesday when Jannik Sinner plays Carlos Alcaraz in the China Open final.

Sinner set the blockbuster showdown with a 6-3, 7-6(3) victory against home favourite Buyunchaokete Tuesday evening in the Beijing semi-finals.

“It’s going to be a tough match. We know each other very well now, but every match is different, so the situation on the court is also a bit different than it was the last two matches. But let’s see,” Sinner said in his on-court interview. “I’m happy to be again here in the final. My season is going very, very good and playing finals is always a great moment. I just hope tomorrow is going to be a good match from both of us.”

That grip change tho 🤌@janniksin | @ChinaOpen | #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/VeDM7xNI4f

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 1, 2024

One year ago, Sinner defeated Alcaraz in the Beijing semi-finals en route to lifting the trophy. It was part of his red-hot finish to the season that rolled into 2024, when the Italian became the first player from his country to claim the No. 1 PIF ATP Ranking.

This time when they meet in Beijing, Sinner will bring to the court a 15-match winning streak. Alcaraz is in form himself, having claimed eight consecutive matches and won Roland Garros and Wimbledon this year.

Watch Extended Beijing SF Highlights:

Sinner needed to work hard to set the clash with his great rival. Buyunchaokete had only played one ATP Tour event entering last week’s ATP 250 in Hangzhou, but has proven himself capable of competing with the best players in the world.

“Today was a very tough match because I didn’t know him at all, so in the beginning I didn’t know exactly what to expect. But then I tried somehow to get into the rhythm,” Sinner said. “I felt like the first set I was playing some good tennis and then in the second set I dropped a little bit of intensity, which then he raised his level. I had some chances in the second set also like yesterday to break a bit earlier. I couldn’t use them, so I tried to stay there mentally somehow, which a set can go very, very fast away, so I’m happy to be… back in the final here.”

The pair traded blows from the baseline, which most players are unable to do with the powerful baseline Sinner. Both men played well under pressure, with the Italian saving all three break points he faced and the Chinese player saving eight of the nine opportunities against his serve.

But Sinner was able to rely on his experience in the most critical moments, surging to a 6/1 lead in the second-set tie-break before finishing off his victory in two hours and four minutes. Now he is one win from joining Novak Djokovic as the only players in tournament history to successfully defend the China Open title. But the 23-year-old knows there is a big obstacle, Alcaraz, standing in his way.

The Spaniard will take a 5-4 Lexus ATP Head2Head series lead into their showdown. It will be their second meeting in a final — Sinner defeated Alcaraz in three sets for the Umag trophy in 2022.

“Of course tomorrow is going to be completely different,” Sinner said. “We know each other very well. It’s going to be tactical, but I’m looking forward to it.”

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Fils defies physical struggles, saves championship point for Tokyo crown

Never count out Arthur Fils at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships.

The #NextGenATP Frenchman on Tuesday added a dramatic victory against Ugo Humbert to his lung-busting campaign at the ATP 500 to clinch the title in Tokyo. Fils saved a championship point in the second-set tie-break before prevailing 5-7, 7-6(6), 6-3 to earn his third tour-level crown.

WHAT IT MEANS 🏆

Arthur Fils is your champion in Tokyo 👊@japanopentennis | #kinoshitajotennis pic.twitter.com/nPfmgRugAo

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 1, 2024

“Honestly I don’t know [how I turned it around],” said Fils, who appeared to struggle with an injury to his left leg for much of the second set. “After 5-all in the first, I was feeling dead on the court. He was playing unbelievable shots. It was a very tight first set. I got a lot of break points and didn’t break. He’s such a great champion and it was very tough.

“I tried my best into the second set and then I saved one match point. Everything in tennis can turn in only one second, and it turned. So I’m very happy, but I could have lost today.”

Fils defeated four Top 20 opponents during his Tokyo run: Top seed Taylor Fritz, defending champion Ben Shelton, Holger Rune and Humbert. Three of those four wins came in three sets, while his semi-final triumph against Rune was settled in a pair of hard-fought tie-break sets. It was his second ATP 500 crown following his triumph in Hamburg in July,

“I’m very happy about the tennis I’m producing,” said Fils. “I’m working a lot and trying to build my tennis. I think now it’s better, from Hamburg to here. I still have to improve but it’s cool.”

Fils’ victory against Humbert was all the more extraordinary considering his physical struggles. He seemed to be physically fading from the championship match when he fell to 3-4, 0/40 on serve in the second set, but the 20-year-old somehow found a way to hold serve and force a tie-break.

Then came one of the highlights of the three-hour, five-minute encounter. Fils fended off the championship point at 5/6 with a stunning backhand pass, the first of three straight points he won to level the match at one-set-all.

“Honestly, I think it’s the best backhand I hit all week,” said Fils of his last-gasp passing shot. “It was crazy. I tried my best and it went perfectly.”

Fils, chasing his first Lexus ATP Head2Head victory in four attempts against Humbert, carried that momentum into the decider. He claimed a crucial break in the eighth game before sending an ace down the T to become the second-youngest champion in Tokyo tournament history.

With his movement around the court laboured at times, Fils’ commanding serving display was crucial to his victory. He won 80 per cent (44/55) of points behind his first delivery, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and did not face a break point in the deciding set.

After his latest title triumph, Fils extended his lead in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah. The Frenchman is now 977 points clear of second-placed Alex Michelsen.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Cash/Glasspool save MP to take Tokyo title

Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool dug deep to clinch a maiden ATP Tour title early in their fledgling partnership Tuesday at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships.

The two Britons overcame Ariel Behar and Robert Galloway 6-4, 4-6, 12-10 to lift the trophy in just their second event together. Cash and Glasspool were on the brink of defeat when match point down at 9/10 in the Match Tie-break, but they reeled off three points in a row from there to seal a 78-minute triumph at the ATP 500 in Tokyo.

🏆 Doubles champions in Tokyo 🏆

British duo Cash and Glasspool lift the trophy after defeating Galloway/Behar 6-4 4-6 [12-10]!@japanopentennis | #kinoshitajotennis pic.twitter.com/ilgJcbKMzE

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 1, 2024

Both teams produced rock-solid serving performances inside Ariake Coliseum, where each finished the match having won 82 per cent (37/45) of points behind first deliveries, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Yet Cash and Glasspool, who last week reached the Hangzhou quarter-finals in their first tournament together, held their nerve late to become the second all-British pair to triumph in Tokyo after Andy Murray and Jamie Murray in 2011.

It is the biggest title of Cash’s career and his third tour-level title overall after the 28-year-old lifted two ATP 250 crowns alongside his Tokyo championship-match opponent Galloway earlier this year. Glasspool is now a five-time ATP Tour champion after winning his second ATP 500 title (Hamburg 2022 w/Heliovaara).

Heliovaara/Patten rally for Beijing final spot
At the China Open, Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten recovered from a slow start to notch an impressive semi-final victory against Jamie Murray and John Peers.

The third-seeded pair, which lifted its maiden major title at Wimbledon in July, prevailed 7-5, 6-1 to seal a final spot on debut at the ATP 500 in Beijing. Heliovaara and Patten had trailed 2-5 in the opening set but went onto convert five of 10 break points they earned in their 79-minute win.

Currently seventh in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings as they chase a spot at the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals, Heliovaara and Patten will take on top seeds Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori in Wednesday’s final. The Italian pair, which is third in the Live Doubles Teams Rankings, defeated Wesley Koolhof and Nikola Mektic 7-6(1), 6-2 to reach its fifth tour-level title match of 2024.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Alcaraz passes Medvedev SF test in Beijing

Carlos Alcaraz’s red-hot run of hard-court form shows no sign of slowing down at the China Open.

The Spaniard on Tuesday overcame Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-3 to reach the final at the ATP 500 in Beijing. Alcaraz prevailed in a high-quality first set that featured five breaks of serve before accelerating past Medvedev in the second to wrap an 88-minute semi-final triumph.

“I think we both started the match pretty well,” said Alcaraz after extending his winning streak to eight tour-level matches. “It was a little bit unusual, with serve being broken many times in the first set. I broke his serve [for 3-2] and then in the next game, I don’t know what happened to me. I probably lost focus a little bit, missed a few first serves that against Daniil on a hard court is a really important weapon. You have to put good first serves in to put yourself in the position to attack.

“I’m really happy that I didn’t lose my focus too long in the first set. I recovered it as soon as I got broken, and I’m really happy that at the end of the set I was able to play really good tennis in the return game and then serving at 6-5. I did a really good game. After that, once you are one set up, it’s a little bit easier, playing against Daniil with more confidence.”

Statement in Beijing 💯@carlosalcaraz outclasses Medvedev to reach his fifth tour-level final this season.@ChinaOpen | #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/ow9zdMozd5

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 1, 2024

Medvedev’s second-set efforts appeared to be undermined by an issue with his hip, for which he received treatment from the physio at 2-3 and 3-4. Yet the No. 5 in the PIF ATP Rankings continued to compete well after both changeovers.

“Sometimes you think, ‘OK, it’s done’, but it’s not done. You have to keep fighting,” reflected Alcaraz. “You have to keep playing the same way that you were playing before and just forget about the opponent. You should focus on yourself and your tennis, so that’s what I tried to do. I was still playing the same way I had played until that point in the match. I didn’t lose the focus in that moment, so I’m really happy that I kept pushing.”

Alcaraz completed his win having converted five of 11 break points he earned, according to Infosys ATP Stats. He is the third player to reach five tour-level finals this season, after World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Casper Ruud.

After improving his Lexus ATP Head2Head record against Medvedev to 6-2, Alcaraz set a championship-match clash against top seed Sinner or home wild card Buyunchaokete in the Chinese capital. If Sinner reaches the final, it would represent a rematch of their 2023 Beijing semi-final, which the Italian won in straight sets en route to the title.

With his semi-final victory, Alcaraz also kept up his bid to haul in Sinner in the race to become ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF. Currently second in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, the Spaniard currently trails Sinner by 2,860 points, although the World No. 1 can extend his lead further by defeating Buyunchaokete later on Tuesday.

Since his disappointing second-round loss to Botic van de Zandschulp at the US Open, Alcaraz has gone unbeaten in singles across the Davis Cup Finals Group Stage, Laver Cup and China Open. The 21-year-old is chasing his first tour-level title since Wimbledon in July. Alcaraz has also triumphed at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells and Roland Garros this season.

[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Badosa shocks second seed Pegula at China Open

US Open finalist Jessica Pegula is out of the China Open after a last-16 defeat by Spain’s Paula Badosa.

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Djokovic 'plays big' at Great Wall of China

Novak Djokovic has long been considered a wall on the tennis court. That took new meaning on Sunday, when he spent time at the Great Wall of China.

In the spirit of ‘Play Big’, Lacoste hosted a special event at the Ju Yong Guan pass in Beijing. Located in the Changping district, Ju Yong Guan is one of the best-preserved passes along the Great Wall of China.

<img alt=”Novak Djokovic” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/10/01/04/42/djokovic-great-wall-2024-1.jpg?w=100%25″ />
^{Photo credit: Lacoste}
Ambassadors, celebrities and media were among those who attended the event, where a tennis court was set up. Djokovic enjoyed hitting some balls with Chinese actor Wang Yibo.

Yibo wrote on Instagram: “I’m truly honoured and delighted to have played tennis with an Olympic Champion at the iconic Great Wall! Big thanks to @lacoste , and thank you Nole @djokernole ! I’m already looking forward to our next match, will keep training hard and play big.”

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by 王一博 (@yibo.w_85)

Djokovic commented on the post: “Pleasure to play with you on Great Wall of China. Looking forward to hosting you on one of my matches soon.”

The Serbian star will now enjoy the Asian Swing and continue his pursuit of his 100th tour-level title.

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Alcaraz climbs to second in Live Race; How far away is first?

Carlos Alcaraz climbed to second in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin on Monday when he reached the China Open semi-finals. How far from first is the Spaniard?

Jannik Sinner still leads Alcaraz by 2,990 points in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, which serves as an indicator for ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF. The Italian is in very good position to become the first Italian to claim the honour.

Alcaraz is well placed to finish in the year-end Top 2 for the third consecutive season. Two years ago, aged 19, he earned ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF. Last season, he finished No. 2.

PIF ATP Live Race To Turin (as of 30 September)

Alcaraz’s hopes of ending the season at No. 1 are not completely dashed, either, with plenty of points still up for grabs in the next month and a half. But to put any pressure on Sinner, Alcaraz must continue winning, starting with his Beijing semi-final against Daniil Medvedev.

Sinner, Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev have qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals, which will be played from 10-17 November in Turin. The next in line to qualify is Medvedev, who is fourth in the Live Race.

Medvedev is trying to earn his place at the season finale for the sixth consecutive season. The 2020 Nitto ATP Finals champion knows it will not be easy to move closer by defeating Alcaraz on Tuesday.

“Tough test against Carlos,” Medvedev said. “Maybe he’s a bit less than Jannik in the zone, but when he’s in the zone, he’s probably the best player in the world. Tough to play him. I feel like now he’s in the zone. So it’s a great test for me.”

Medvedev owns a 730-point advantage over fifth-placed Taylor Fritz in the Live Race. If he wins the Chinese ATP 500 title, he would increase his lead over the American to 1,030 points.

First-placed Sinner will face home favourite Buyunchaokete in the other Beijing semi-final.

Seventh-placed Andrey Rublev had a big opportunity to surge to fifth in the Live Race by winning the Beijing title. However, he fell to Buyunchaokete on Monday evening in the quarter-finals.

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#NextGenATP Butvilas wins first Challenger title; Fearnley, Ritschard set for Top 100 debut

Three players secured memorable milestones Sunday when they triumphed on the ATP Challenger Tour.

#NextGenATP Edas Butvilas earned his maiden Challenger crown while Jacob Fearnley and Alexander Ritschard are set to crack the Top 100 of the PIF ATP Rankings on Wednesday following their title runs.

The 20-year-old Butvilas won the LTP Challenger in Charleston, South Carolina, where he became the first lucky loser champion at that level since February 2023 (Matteo Gigante, Tenerife). Butvilas downed American Nishesh Basavareddy 6-4, 6-3 in the final.

Entering the 2024 season, there had only been two Lithuanian winners in Challenger history: Ricardas Berankis and Laurynas Grigelis. But Lithuania has two #NextGenATP players who have added their names to the mix this year: Vilius Gaubas, who won the Cordenons Challenger, and Butvilas.

Up eight places to 14th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, Butvilas is aiming to make a late push for maiden qualification for the 20-and-under Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, which runs from 18-22 December. His countryman Gaubas is ninth.

Fearnley, 23, continued his unstoppable run at the Co’met Orleans Open. The Briton has won four Challenger titles this year, including the past three he has played. Prior to this season, Fearnley had only competed in one Challenger match, but the former Texas Christian University standout now boasts a 23-1 season record at that level.

Highest win percentage in a Challenger season (min. 20 matches played)

World No. 98 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, Fearnley dropped just one set all week in Orleans, where he defeated home hope Harold Mayot 6-3, 7-6(5) in the final.

“It was a very, very difficult match. I was feeling pretty comfortable until about 5-3 [in the second set]. I had some opportunities but credit to Harold, he kept fighting and made it very difficult for me,” Fearnley said. “It’s never easy to serve out a title, especially a big one in front of a French crowd.”

Jubilation for @jakefearnley01 🎉🏆#ATPChallenger | @the_LTA pic.twitter.com/QEbz1CNWu3

— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) September 29, 2024

Ritschard is also set to make his Top 100 debut after winning his third title of the year. The 30-year-old, who is one place behind Fearnley at No. 99 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, won the Del Monte Lisboa Belém Open in Portugal. The Swiss overcame Belgian Raphael Collignon 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-3 in a two-hour, 37-minute final.

<img alt=”Alexander Ritschard celebrates winning the Lisbon Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/09/30/17/37/ritschard-lisbonch-2024.jpg” />
^{Alexander Ritschard celebrates winning the Lisbon Challenger. Credit: Beatriz Ruivo/FPT}
“The result, the winning, and all this is just the reward for hard work,” Ritschard said. “I consider myself still young, but I guess in the world of tennis people see 30 and they think, ‘Oh, he’s on his way out’. But for me, it’s just getting started. I just want to see how far I can go. I think I have what it takes to play at the top and I just want to explore how far I can take it.”

Argentine Juan Manuel Cerundolo won his third Challenger title of the year and 10th overall at the Challenger Dove Men+Care Antofagasta in Chile.

<img alt=”Juan Manuel Cerundolo at the Antofagasta Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/09/30/17/38/cerundolo-antofagastach-2024.jpg” />
^{Juan Manuel Cerundolo at the Antofagasta Challenger. Credit: Challenger Dove Men+Care Antofagasta}
The eighth seed relied on rock-solid counterpunching to overcome Paraguay’s 20-year-old Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the final. Cerundolo, 22, saved 11 of 15 break points faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Tung-Lin Wu was crowned champion at the Bangkok Challenger, where he advanced through qualifying en route to lifting the trophy.

The 26-year-old, who hails from Chinese Taipei, downed American Mackenzie McDonald 6-3, 7-6(4) in the final to claim his second Challenger title and first since April 2022. Wu dropped just one set across seven matches in Thailand.

<img alt=”Tung-Lin Wu in action at the Bangkok Challenger.” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/09/30/17/35/wu-nonthaburich-2024.jpg” />
^{Tung-Lin Wu in action at the Bangkok Challenger. Credit: Bangkok Challenger}

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