Djokovic, Sinner, and Alcaraz all won their first matches at the Shanghai Masters

Novak Djokovic came through a tricky test against Alex Michelsen at the Shanghai Masters to win his first match on the ATP Tour since a shock third-round exit at the US Open in August. The 37-year-old Serb faced an uphill battle as he lost the opening three games against America’s world number 43. However, Djokovic showcased his resilience, bouncing back to take the first set on a tie-break.

Despite the early struggles, Djokovic’s experience shone through as he navigated through the tense moments of the match. In the second set, he initially seemed in control, establishing a 4-1 lead but then stumbled just as victory was in sight. This lapse in concentration forced him into another tie-break, where Michelsen had the chance to push the match into a decisive third set. The 20-year-old American displayed tenacity, managing to secure two crucial points that could have swung the momentum in his favor, including a significant opportunity while serving at 9-8 up in the second-set tie-break. However, unforced errors, a hallmark of high-pressure moments, ultimately cost him dearly.

Djokovic, despite playing with heavy strapping on his right knee, showcased his ability to capitalize on Michelsen’s mistakes, ultimately claiming a hard-fought victory with a score of 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (11-9). This win marked Djokovic’s first match in China since 2019 and was an essential step in his pursuit of a milestone—his 100th tour-level title.

In the third round, the world number four will face either 22-year-old Italian Flavio Cobolli or Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka, both of whom are formidable opponents in their own right. Earlier on Saturday, Djokovic was joined by the ATP Tour’s top two players, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who each enjoyed comfortable victories in their opening matches at the Shanghai Masters, less than a week after contesting a dramatic China Open final.

Sinner, the world number one from Italy, redeemed himself after suffering a defeat to Alcaraz in Beijing. He delivered a commanding performance, cruising to a 6-1 6-4 victory over Japan’s Taro Daniel at the ATP 1,000 event. The top seed demonstrated his prowess on the court, taking just one hour and 17 minutes to secure his place in the third round.

He was closely followed by Alcaraz, the 21-year-old Spanish sensation, who was equally destructive in his match, winning 6-2 6-2 against China’s Shang Juncheng. This victory marked Alcaraz’s 10th consecutive win, with his recent triumph at the China Open adding to Team Europe’s success at the Laver Cup in September. The young talent will next face China’s world number 560, Yibing Wu, while Sinner is set to compete against 37th-ranked Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who recently outlasted Botic van de Zandschulp in a grueling match that lasted three hours and 43 minutes, setting the record for the longest match in the tournament’s history.

In contrast, Russian sixth seed Andrey Rublev faced disappointment, falling to a defeat by the Czech Republic’s Jakub Mensik with scores of 6-7 (7-9) 6-4 6-3. The weather played a role in the day’s play as rain caused early cancellations on the outside courts. However, the match featuring second seed Alexander Zverev against Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci continued uninterrupted under the roof of the venue’s main stadium court. The 27-year-old German clinched a solid 6-4 6-2 victory, setting the stage for a third-round meeting with either Australia’s world number 28 Jordan Thompson or Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor.