Carlos Alcaraz and in the first row Jannik sinner showed no signs of fatigue after their China Open final earlier this week to advance with comfortable straight-set victories in their opening matches of the tournament. Shanghai Masters SATURDAY.
World second-ranked Alcaraz, who beat the Italian on Wednesday in Beijing for his fourth title of the year, recorded his 10th straight victory with a 6-2, 6-2 result over 19-year-old China’s Shang Juncheng.
The 21-year-old Spaniard won the match’s first nine points and four of seven break points as he charged into a third-round encounter with another Chinese player, Wu Yibing.
“I’m not used to playing against players younger than me,” Alcaraz said. “He’s been playing some good tennis lately, winning his first ATP title (Chengdu title), so I’m pretty sure he’ll climb the rankings. I’m just happy to be able to win these kinds of matches.
Sinner, who faces an ongoing doping case, enjoyed a comfortable 6-1, 6-4 victory over Japan’s Taro Daniel for his 250th career victory.
The Italian, who won the US Open last month in his second major tournament of the year, had 12 aces and 38 winners. “I felt pretty comfortable today,” said Sinner, 23, who next faces Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
“I also feel physically fit, which is very important to me. Of course, I will try to improve for tomorrow’s performance, but today I served really well, especially in the important moments, and I moved well.
Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic and ranked 65th beat sixth-ranked Andrey Rublev seven times before scoring a surprise victory 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-3.
Yosuke Watanuki also scored a surprise victory, defeating 35th-ranked Brendan Nakashima 7-6 (4), 6-3. The Japanese qualifier will then face seventh-placed American Taylor Fritz or Frenchman Terence Atmane.
Additionally, 24th-ranked Australian Alexei Popyrin beat Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic 6-3, 6-2.
Later Saturday, third Alexander Zverev began his campaign against Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci, while fourth-placed Novak Djokovic faced American Alex Michelsen.
