4-time former winner and Olympic gold medallist Novak Djokovic could have his work minimize out as he returns to Shanghai for the primary time in 5 years.
The 37-year-old, who has gained each single main event in tennis, would be the primary attraction within the 96-player discipline, however he faces a tricky path to the latter phases of the event.
Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, has performed simply 40 matches this 12 months and his final match on court docket noticed him bow out of the US Open with a shock third-round exit to Alexei Popyrin.
Djokovic will likely be aiming to win his one hundredth profession title however faces a troublesome check with the likes of world No 1 Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev all within the draw.
He’ll tackle the winner of Alex Michelsen or Yunchaokete Bu in his first match after receiving a bye into spherical two however he may face Andrey Rublev within the quarter-finals and Alexander Zverev within the final 4.
Djokovic has by no means failed to achieve the quarter-finals in 9 earlier Shanghai appearances.
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are on one other collision course
Prime seed Jannik Sinner and four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz have been positioned within the reverse aspect of the draw.
The 12-day lengthy occasion is held on the Qizhong Tennis Centre and will get underway on Wednesday October 2, working till Sunday October 13.
Hubert Hurkacz beat Andrey Rublev to win the occasion final 12 months, however the large Pole will likely be lacking this time round as a consequence of a knee harm.
Which British gamers are competing in Shanghai?
Dan Evans will fly the British flag within the draw together with Billy Harris
Jack Draper was the one British tennis participant who was assured a spot on this 12 months’s primary draw at Shanghai, however the world No 20 has been compelled to withdraw from the event as a consequence of an stomach harm sustained on the Japan Open.
Dan Evans got here via qualifying to achieve the principle draw and he faces Brazil’s Thiago Seyboth Wild within the first spherical, whereas Billy Harris has entered the principle draw as a fortunate loser.
What’s taking place on Wednesday on the Shanghai Masters?
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Talking on the Sky Sports activities tennis podcast, Gael Monfils revealed his attention-grabbing ambitions for one more profession after tennis
US Open 2014 champion Marin Cilic, former world No 4 Kei Nishikori and veteran Frenchman Gael Monfils are amongst those that’ll take to Qi Zhong Tennis Centre court docket when primary draw motion begins.
Evans is scheduled to tackle Seyboth Wild with the winner to face Daniil Medvedev.
The way to watch the Shanghai Masters?
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Discover out all of the methods to look at tennis on Sky Sports activities, together with the US Open, ATP and WTA excursions
You’ll be able to watch stay protection of all of the motion on the Shanghai Masters solely on Sky Sports activities Tennis and Now.
Sky Sports activities+ has formally launched and will likely be built-in into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, giving Sky Sports activities clients entry to over 50 per cent extra stay sport this 12 months at no further value. Discover out extra right here.
What’s arising on Sky Sports activities Tennis in October?
- Shanghai Masters – ATP 1000 (October 2-13)
- Wuhan Open – WTA 1000 (October 6-12 – Emma Raducanu in qualifying motion)
- Almaty Open, Kazakhstan – ATP 250 (October 14-20)
- Stockholm Open, Sweden – ATP 250 (October 14-20)
- European Open, Antwerp – ATP 250 (October 14-20)
- Japan Open, Osaka – WTA 250 (October 14-20)
- Ningbo Open, China – WTA 500 (October 14-20)
- Erste Financial institution Open, Vienna – ATP 500 (October 21-27)
- Swiss Indoors, Basel – ATP 500 (October 21-27)
- Guangzhou Open, China – WTA 250 (October 21-27)
- Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis, Tokyo – WTA 500 (October 21-27)
