Shanghai
Alcaraz lands in a big way in Shanghai
The Spaniard will face Wu in the third round
October 5, 2024
Shi Tang/Getty Images
Carlos Alcaraz has not won the 2024 Asian tour.
According to ATP Editorial in Spanish
Carlos Alcaraz continues to go through great moments. The Spaniard debuted this Saturday at the Rolex Shanghai Masters with a great performance, defeating #NextGenATP Shang Juncheng 6-2, 6-2 to send the first warning in the tournament that will be the final touch on the Asian tour. Under full expectation, the Murcian made one thing clear at the ATP Asian Masters 1000: his desire to finish the season in style is more alive than ever.
After winning the China Open a day ago with a huge final against Jannik Sinner, the world No. 1 in one of the games of the year, the Spaniard returned 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 players exposed on the Asian tour.
“I’m not used to competing against players younger than me,” admitted Alcaraz, two years older than Shang. “He’s been playing at a good level recently, he’s won his first ATP title, so he’ll continue to rise in the rankings. I feel happy to be able to win matches like this.”
“On the internet he told me that it was a pleasure to share on the court. It’s nice that younger players tell you these kinds of things.”
The Murcian keeps his reaction at full potential in the final stretch of the year. Since losing prematurely in the second round of the US Open, Alcaraz has managed to achieve 10 consecutive victories on the circuit, leading Spain to the Davis Cup Finals, playing a decisive role in the victory of the European Team in the Cup Laver and starting the Asian tour. in a voracious way, to capture the ATP 500 crown in Beijing.
Alcaraz will continue to take on a tournament that will have a big local impact. The Spaniard will play the third round of the tournament against Yibing Wu, one of the most admired figures of the Shanghai fans. The former world No. 54 is the first Chinese player who was able to lift a title in the history of the ATP Tour (Dallas 2022) and will try to give the country another unforgettable chapter.
On the Shanghai courts, Alcaraz has the opportunity to highlight his talent in the gold category of the ATP Tour. The Spaniard is seeking the sixth ATP Masters 1000 trophy of his career this week, a figure that would equal Daniil Medvedev’s haul and Alexander Zverev for third among active tennis players.
Juan Carlos Ferrero’s pupil promises to bring excitement to the fight for the top in the 2024 season Alcaraz is currently ranked No. 2 in the ATP PIF Live Race to Turin, only behind Italy’s Jannik Sinner. The Spaniard, who has already qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals, is eyeing the year-end ATP No. 1 to present at PIF for the second time in his career (2022).
For his part, Shang ends 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 Asians have strengthened their qualification options for the Next Gen ATP Finals at the end of the season.
Did you know that…?
Carlos Alcaraz aims 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) have managed to reach the final in the ATP Asian Masters 1000.