No Djokovic, But 19 Of Top 20 In Shanghai Led By Alcaraz, Medvedev, Sinner, Zverev

The biggest tennis event in Asia kicks off Wednesday in Shanghai for the second-to-last Masters event of the season.

After a three-year hiatus due to COVID, the tournament returns with 19 of the Top 20 players in a new 12-day event format.

The lone missing Top 20 player is Novak Djokovic who opted out of the event. The Serb hasn’t played a tournament (did play Davis Cup) since winning his 24th Slam at the US Open last month.

Djokovic is still world No. 1 and will stay there regardless of outcome in Shanghai, although No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz could pass the Serb in the 2023 ATP Race with a big result next week.

The last Shanghai Masters was back in 2019 when Daniil Medvedev defeated Alexander Zverev. And that makes Medvedev the defending champion this week. The Russian is currently playing in the Beijing final against Jannik Sinner who is also among the threats.

Top 16 seeds for this 96-draw event are 1 Carlos Alcaraz, 2 Daniil Medvedev, 3 Holger Rune, 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas, 5 Andrey Rublev, 6 Jannik Sinner, 7 Taylor Fritz, 8 Casper Ruud, 9 Alexander Zverev, 10 Frances Tiafoe, 11 Alex De Minaur, 12 Tommy Paul, 13 Karen Khachanov, 14 Felix Auger Aliassime, 15 Cameron Norrie and 16 Hubert Hurkacz.

The projected quarterfinals:
1 Alcaraz – 7 Fritz
4 Tsitsipas – 5 Rublev
8 Ruud – 3 Rune
6 Sinner – 2 Medvedev

The projected R16 looks like:
1 Alcaraz – 13 Khachanov
10 Tiafoe – 7 Fritz
4 Tsitsipas – 15 Norrie
12 Paul – 5 Rublev

8 Ruud – 11 De Minaur
16 Hurkacz – 3 Rune
6 Sinner – 9 Zverev
14 Auger Aliassime – 2 Medvedev

CARLOS ALCARAZ QUARTER
Seeds: 1 Alcaraz, 7 Fritz, 10 Tiafoe, 13 Khachanov, 18 Dimitrov, 22 Jarry, 27 Lehecka, 30 Evans
Floaters: Sonego, Vukic, Thompson, Barrere, Carballes Baena, Van Assche, Schwartzman, Shang
Notable openers: Aleksandar Vukic-Roberto Carballes Baena
Projected 3R matches: 1 Alcaraz – 30 Evans, 18 Dimitrov – 13 Khachanov, 10 Tiafoe – 22 Jarry, 27 Lehecka – 7 Fritz

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS QUARTER
Seeds: 4 Tsitsipas, 5 Rublev, 12 Paul, 15 Norrie, 21 Struff, 24 Davidovich Fokina, 31 Mannarino, 32 Humbert
Floaters: Djere, Wolf, Fils, Van De Zandschulp, Popyrin, Ofner, Arnaldi, Karatsev, Shevchenko, Hijikata
Notable openers: Alexei Popyrin-Matteo Arnaldi, JJ Wolf-Pedro Cachin,
Projected 3R matches: 4 Tsitsipas – 32 Humbert, 21 Struff – 15 Norrie, 12 Paul – 24 Davidovich Fokina, 31 Mannarino – 5 Rublev.

HOLGER RUNE QUARTER
Seeds: 3 Rune, 8 Ruud, 11 De Minaur, 16 Hurkacz, 17 Musetti, 23 Griekspoor, 28 Etcheverry, 29 Eubanks
Floaters: Nishioka, Hanfmann, Wawrinka, Gasquet, Nakashima, Kokkinakis, Marozsan, Fognini, ,
Notable openers: Daniel Altmaier-Yoshihito Nishioka, Dusan Lajovic-Stan Wawrinka, Zhizhen Zhang-Richard Gasquet
Projected 3R matches: 8 Ruud – 29 Eubanks, 23 Griekspoor – 11 De Minaur, 16 Hurkacz – 17 Musetti, 28 Etcheverry – 3 Rune

DANIIL MEDVEDEV QUARTER
Seeds: 6 Sinner, 9 Zverev, 14 Auger Aliassime, 19 Shelton, 20 Cerundolo, 25 Baez, 26 Korda,
Floaters: Murray, Kecmanovic, McDonald, Giron, Fucsovics, Safiullin, Kovacevic
Notable openers: Roman Safiullin-Andy Murray
Projected 3R matches: 6 Sinner – 25 Baez, 19 Shelton – 9 Zverev, 14 Auger Aliassime – 20 Cerundolo, 26 Korda – 2 Medvedev

Former champions: Murray(3), Medvedev
Former finalists: Zverev

LAST 10 SHANGHAI CHAMPIONS/FINALS
2019 Daniil Medvedev d Alexander Zverev 6-4, 6-1
2018 Novak Djokovic d Borna Coric 6-3, 6-4
2017 Roger Federer d Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-3
2016 Andy Murray d Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6(1), 6-1
2015 Novak Djokovic d Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-2, 6-4
2014 Roger Federer d Gilles Simon 7-6(6), 7-6(2)
2013 Novak Djokovic d Juan Martin del Potro 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(3)
2012 Novak Djokovic d Andy Murray 5-7, 7-6(11), 6-3
2011 Andy Murray d David Ferrer 7-5, 6-4
2010 Andy Murray d Roger Federer 6-3, 6-2

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