Carlos Alcaraz lands in a big way in Shanghai | ATP Tour

Shanghai

Alcaraz lands in a big way in Shanghai

The Spaniard will face Wu in the third round

October 05, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz continues to go through a spectacular moment. The Spaniard debuted this Saturday at the Rolex Shanghai Masters with a stellar performance, defeating #NextGenATP Shang Juncheng 6-2, 6-2 to send a first warning in the tournament that will put the finishing touch on the Asian tour. Under total expectation, the Murcian made one thing clear at the Asian ATP Masters 1000: his desire to finish the season in style is more alive than ever.

After winning the China Open days ago with an immense final against Jannik Sinner, defeating the world No. 1 in one of the matches of the year, the Spaniard reappeared in Shanghai with his strength intact. Alcaraz dominated the match from start to finish with a frenetic pace, achieving victory without losing serve against one of the revelation players of the Asian tour.

“I’m not used to competing against players younger than me,” admitted Alcaraz, two years older than Shang. “He is playing at a good level lately, he has won his first ATP title, so he will continue to rise in the rankings. I feel happy to be able to win these types of matches.”

“On the internet he told me that it was a pleasure to share the court. It’s nice that younger players tell you these types of things.”

The Murcian maintains his reaction at full capacity in the final stretch of the year. Since his premature defeat in the second round of the US Open, Alcaraz has managed to string 10 consecutive victories on the circuit, guiding Spain to the Davis Cup Finals, playing a decisive role in Team Europe’s victory in the Laver Cup and beginning the Asian tour in a voracious way, capturing the ATP 500 crown in Beijing.

Alcaraz will continue to experience a tournament of great local impact. The Spaniard will play the third round of the tournament against Yibing Wu, one of the figures most appreciated by Shanghai fans. The former world No. 54 was the first Chinese player capable of lifting a title in the history of the ATP Tour (Dallas 2022) and will try to give another unforgettable chapter to the country.

On the courts of Shanghai, Alcaraz has the opportunity to highlight his talent in the gold category of the ATP Tour. The Spaniard is seeking this week the sixth ATP Masters 1000 trophy of his career, a figure with which he would equal the loot of Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev in third position among active tennis players.

The pupil of Juan Carlos Ferrero promises to bring excitement to the fight for the top in the 2024 season. Alcaraz is currently ranked No. 2 in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, only behind the Italian Jannik Sinner. The Spaniard, already qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals, aspires to hold the ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF for the second time in his career (2022).

For his part, Shang completes his participation in the Asian tour with an interesting loot in his hands. The Chinese, who won his first ATP Tour title in Chengdu and won for the first time at the ATP Masters 1000 in Shanghai, consolidates his figure as one of the most promising young players in the locker room. Currently installed at No. 3 in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, the Asian has strengthened his qualification options for the Next Gen ATP Finals at the end of the season.

Did you know that…?
Carlos Alcaraz aspires to become the first Spanish champion of the Rolex Shanghai Masters in individual mode. Since its establishment on the ATP Tour calendar in the 2009 season, La Armada figures such as Rafael Nadal (2009, 2017), David Ferrer (2011) and Roberto Bautista Agut (2016) managed to reach the final of the Asian ATP Masters 1000.