Shanghai Masters: Alcaraz and Sinner Win in the First Round

Three days after competing in a thrilling China Open final, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy and Spanish opponent Carlos Alcaraz both won easily in their opening matches at the Shanghai Masters.

Sinner, 23, bounced back from losing to Alcaraz in Beijing, cruising to a 6-1 6-4 victory over Japan’s Taro Daniel at the ATP 1,000 event.

After a similarly impressive performance by third seed Alcaraz, who was on the court for one minute shorter in his 6-2 6-2 victory over China’s Shang Juncheng, the top seed took just one hour and seventeen minutes to secure his spot in the third round.

The 21-year-old’s triumph at the China Open came after victories for Team Europe at the Laver Cup in September, marking his tenth straight success.

“I’ve been playing really good tennis lately and I’m just trying to keep that up,” explained four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz, who has won four titles on the ATP Tour this year.

After the Argentine’s 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 7-5 victory over the Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp, Sinner will take on Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the third round. Wu will next play China’s world number 560 Yibing Wu. It was the longest match in tournament history, clocking in at three hours and forty-three minutes.

Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic defeated Andrey Rublev, the sixth seed from Russia, 6-7 (7-9) 6-4 6-3 in another match.

Later on Saturday, the four-time Shanghai Masters champion Novak Djokovic will play 20-year-old American Alex Michelsen in an attempt to win his 100th tour-level championship.