| October 5, 2024 | by Vivienne Christie |
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It was a perfect start for world No.1 Jannik Sinner at the Rolex Shanghai Masters. And with a straight sets win over Japan's Taro Daniel at Qi Zhong Tennis Centre, the tournament top seed notched another new milestone in his career.
In registering his tour-leading match win of the season, Sinner also claimed his 250th match. He is the only 2000s-born player to achieve that feat.
Should he maintain the dominance he displayed against Daniel, a seventh title this season is also within reach.
The Italian recorded 38 winners, including 14 aces, in his 6-1 6-4 victory.
And yet Sinner still sees some room to improve. "You know, the return itself, for sure it has to be a little bit better, slightly better," said the 23-year-old. "The rest I felt like it was working quite well today. But it's of course a bit different because, you know, when you break quite early in each set, then it gives you a bit more confidence."
Some impressive numbers are also building for Carlos Alcaraz. Having lifted a 16th singles title at the recent China Open, the Spaniard arrived in Shanghai as the reinstated world No.2.
With victory over China's Shang Juncheng, Alcaraz extended his current streak of match wins to 10.
"I'm feeling great on the court, physically I'm feeling good," he commented of that momentum. "For me, for my tennis, it's really important to feel that way. I'm hitting the ball really, really well as well, so I'm trying to be the same way in the matches."
Producing some dazzling winners in his 6-2 6-2 victory, Alcaraz showcased the form that has taken him to four Grand Slam titles and world No.1.
"I'm a guy that tries to keep the positive things," Alcaraz related. "I put in really good work physically on the court as well, just to feel great coming to this tournament. I think that's the difference, and that's why I'm showing really good tennis, because physically I'm feeling great.
"I'm just trying to have joy and enjoy my time on the court, playing good points, playing good rallies, and the way that I'm hitting the ball is quite good."
Shang is among the many admirers of Alcaraz's approach. "It's a pleasure to share a court with you," he told the 21-year-old with a smile at the end of their match.
Alcaraz was equally complimentary of the 19-year-old Shang. "For me it's great to hear that word from him. We're going to share the court more and more often," smiled the No.3 seed, who'll face another Chinese player, Wu Yibing, next.
There's another big number in sight as Novak Djokovic targets his 100th singles title.
The four-time Rolex Shanghai Masters champion navigated the first challenge in achieving that milestone as he eliminated 20-year-old Alex Michelsen 7-6(3) 7-6(9). Contesting only his second match since the US Open, Djokovic admitted "there was a little rust."
The Serbian dropped serve early against the American but recovered from a 1-4 deficit to secure the first set in a tiebreak. After edging ahead 4-1 in the second set, he withstood a spirited comeback from Michelsen, who held a set point when it progressed to a tiebreak again.
"I have watched Alex play the last couple years, but I've never faced him, and it's different when you're on court. These conditions I think are quite suitable to him. He has a big serve, he has attacking style of tennis, and, yeah, it was very challenging for me at times, particularly the beginning," said Djokovic, with victory at last secured after just under two hours.
"I found the groove, I served well, and I thought we both played a quite high level of tennis for both sets, throughout the entire match the atmosphere was amazing … (I'm) just very glad to stay tough mentally, and calm when it mattered the most.
Alexander Zverev rounded out the perfect day for tournament top seeds with a comprehensive win over qualifier Mattia Bellucci. The German registered 19 winners, against 14 unforced errors, as he completed the 6-4 6-2 victory in an hour and 36 minutes.
It was a tougher day for 2023 Shanghai finalist Andrey Rublev, who fell to Czech teenager Jakub Mensik for the second time this year. While the seventh-seeded Rublev secured the first set in a tiebreak, the steely 19-year-old recovered from a 0-2 third-set deficit to record a 6-7(7) 6-4 6-3 win.
Marking Mensik's third top-10 win of the season, it added to his upset over Rublev in Doha and Grigor Dimitrov in Madrid.
Jiri Lehecka adding to a satisfying day for Czech players in Shanghai as he claimed a 7-6(6) 6-4 win over Spaniard Jaume Munar.
Australia's Alexei Popyrin, meanwhile, showed the many improvements he's made in a career-defining year. The recent Montreal Masters champion dominated against Miomir Kecmanovic, recording a 6-3 6-2 victory in just over an hour.
"I was just really solid, focused on what I had to do, served well, and when I had chances in the return games I capitalised on them," said Popyrin, who recorded his first main-draw win at the tournament.
"I think that's what I've been doing really well the last couple months, kind of focusing on my service games … trying to hold them comfortably, and then trying to put pressure on the returns, and that's what I was doing."
In a rain-disrupted day at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, Yosuke Watanuki and Alexander Shevchenko also advanced. Other scheduled matches will resume at Qi Zhong Tennis Centre on Sunday.
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