| October 4, 2024 | by Vivienne Christie |
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From past and present world No.1s to multiple Grand Slam champions, former tournament titlists and fast-rising home favourites - the star power couldn't be stronger as Rolex Shanghai Masters second-round matches are completed on Saturday.
The spotlight is especially bright on Qi Zhong's Stadium Court, where Carlos Alcaraz, the tournament's No.3 seed and a four-time Grand Slam champion, meets Shang Juncheng in the day's opening match.
Two years in age separate the two players, with Alcaraz, at age 21, senior to 19-year-old Shang. And while the Spaniard, who claimed the Roland Garros and Wimbledon titles this year, may seem vastly more experienced, Shang has made rapid gains in his short time on tour. At the Chengdu Open last month, he won his first career title and also became the first Chinese man to claim a tour level singles title on home soil.
Elevated to a career-high world No.51 by virtue of that milestone, Shang is an increasingly influence in the games upper echelon. But the teenager was feeling no pressure as he prepared to face Alcaraz for a second time.
"The only time I played him on Rod Laver (Arena) I didn't finish the match, so on the court I said, you know, if I finish the match it's a huge step forward," said Shang, who retired with injury in the Australian Open third round earlier this year.
"Obviously the results don't matter, I'm just trying to play my best tennis. For sure it's going to be fun against Carlos, super nice person, yeah, just a good opportunity to play against one of the best in the world."
The star-studded day session continues as world No.1 Jannik Sinner launches his 2024 campaign against the 93rd-ranked Taro Daniel. A winner of 59 matches so far this season, the Italian is aiming to add to his six 2024 titles - including both hard-court Grand Slams at the Australian and US Opens.
After contesting the China Open final against Alcaraz in Beijing on Wednesday, Sinner was thrilled to return to Qi Zhong on Friday. "I'm very happy to be back here, it's a very nice tournament, very special tournament. I had my first practice session just now, I just finished, so I feel good," said the 23-year-old, who won his only other match against Taro, a 31-year-old Japanese player, at Australian Open 2022.
Novak Djokovic aims to continue his long and happy connection with the tournament when he takes on 20-year-old American Alex Michelsen in the first match of the night session. It will be Djokovic's first encounter with the world No.43.
The Serbian's four titles in Shanghai make him the tournament's most prolific champion - and he would dearly love to add to that collection. With a fifth title in the city, he would lift the 100th trophy of his singles career.
"China has been a very successful and happy place for me. I've had great success on the Chinese soil, both Beijing and Shanghai," Djokovic said. "I haven't been here five years. I just love playing here, love the conditions, love the support that I get, and I also have an extra motivation of trying to go for my 100th title.
There are also a pair of former Shanghai finalists in action on Saturday, with No.2 seed Alexander Zverev facing Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci and No.6 Andrey Rublev meeting Czech teenager Jakub Mensik.
Zverev was runner-up to Daniil Medvedev at the 2019 Rolex Shanghai Masters, while Rublev lost the 2023 final to Hubert Hurkacz in one of the best matches ever played in Shanghai.
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