When Ben Shelton opens play on Day 3 at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, he'll bring positive memories from his eye-turning tournament debut. On the same court last year, the American who celebrated his 21st birthday at the tournament last year (9th October) stunned then-No.4 Jannik Sinner to reach the quarterfinals.
There's also confidence to be gained from recent success against Denis Shapovalov, the first challenger in Shelton's 2024 Shanghai campaign. Having contested two matches so far against the Canadian - in the Wimbledon third round and Washington quarterfinals, both this season - Shelton has emerged with two wins.
The battle between the two left-handers, ranked No.16 and No.102 respectively, is certain to enthrall.
Shelton is one of 14 seeds in action as second-round matches begin at Qi Zhong Tennis Centre on Friday, with each of those seeded players granted a first-round bye.
Not that a higher ranking is any guarantee of success. Stefanos Tsitsipas, the No.10 seed, faces a rematch against wildcard Kei Nishikori, who stunned the Greek star in their last meeting at the Montreal Masters.
"I don't have such good memories actually (from) a few months ago (when) I got to play him," said Tsitsipas with a smile, when asked earlier this week about a potential meeting with the experienced Nishikori. "I feel like this surface he likes to play on so that's definitely something I will keep an eye on."
There's also a challenging rematch as Daniil Medvedev begins his campaign to add another Rolex Shanghai Masters trophy, having triumphed at the tournament in 2019.
In the first match of the night session, the No.5 seed takes on Brazil's Thiago Seyboth Wild - a five-set winner over Medvedev in their only other match at Roland Garros in 2023.
The final match on the Stadium Court on Friday sees Casper Ruud, the No.8 seed, taking on Australian qualifier Aleksander Vukic. It will be a maiden match between the two men.
Other seeds in second-round action on Friday include No.11 Tommy Paul, who faces experienced Italian Fabio Fognini, as well as No.18 Felix Auger-Aliassime, who meets Alexandre Muller.
French players Arthur Fils and Ugo Humbert, who recently contested the Japan Open final, will also aim to continue winning momentum. The 21st-seeded Fils, the winner of that final, meets Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena.
For No.16 seed Humbert, there's an all-French battle with Arthur Cazaux.
Many eyes at Qi Zhong will also be on Bu Yunchaokete, who takes to the Grandstand court for a first career meeting with young American, Alex Michelson, as first-round matches are completed.
The Xinjiang-born Yunchaokete has struck career-best form on home soil in China, reaching the semifinals in Hangzhou and stunning Andrey Rublev (among others) as he progressed to the same stage in Beijing.
Those results have elevated the 22-year-old Bu to a career-high world No.69 in the ATP rankings. His opponent, Michelsen, is age 20 and ranked No.43.
Bu, who debuted at the Rolex Shanghai Masters last year, is excited to build momentum in another home event.
"I have some great match(es) here. Yeah, I feel good. Honestly, I feel I have the confidence just as I arrive here," he told media, who were keen to understand what is working so well for him in China this year.
"Maybe it's because I'm playing at home, and more people support me, and I am more confident or whatever, but, yeah, the results are coming, so I just trust myself and I just keep going."
