Shanghai Masters: Djokovic-Hurkacz, a champions' duel as the second round begins

The Rolex Shanghai Masters moves into its second round this Friday — the tournament runs from 7 to 18 October — with a host of the big favourites starting their campaigns. Today the top seed, Alexander Zverev, American Ben Shelton (3) and, in the Stadium Court night session, Novak Djokovic all open their tournaments, with the Serb taking on fellow former champion Hubert Hurkacz. The second round is split across Friday and Saturday; the rest of the contenders — Alcaraz, Medvedev, Fritz, Tsitsipas — already know their opponents.

Djokovic-Hurkacz, a champions' duel

Djokovic arrived in Shanghai with the best possible momentum: his 102nd ATP title in Beijing, "the best week of this year, no doubt," as he put it. "I'm trying to build momentum on that here in Shanghai as well, use the confidence and hopefully have another great deep run in this tournament," he said in his pre-tournament press conference, in which he also paid tribute to Kei Nishikori, who ended his career last week in Tokyo. The 39-year-old Serb is the tournament's most decorated player — four titles, a record — and competed in the event's very first edition back in 2009.

Across the net he will find a familiar face: Hurkacz, champion in 2023, is back in Shanghai for the first time since, and in form — a final in Chengdu, semi-finals in Beijing, where he retired with adductor trouble he says is now behind him. On Thursday he fired 19 aces to see off James Duckworth in 81 minutes (6-3, 7-6(4)). "It's going to be a fun challenge," he said of Djokovic, whom he has never beaten: 0-8 in their head-to-head. "I need to serve well, play well from the baseline and return well. It's always a pleasure to share the court with Novak, such a great champion."

Zverev and Shelton also begin

The top seed needs no introduction: Zverev arrives with this year's Grand Slam double (Roland Garros and the US Open), a 58-15 record and on the brink of becoming the 30th No. 1 in ATP Rankings history (since 1973). Already qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals, he is chasing his third title of the season; he faces wild card Yibing Wu, who delighted the home crowd by beating lucky loser Michael Zheng 6-3, 7-6(6). "I have big motivation," said the German. "The only thing I can control is what I do on the tennis court and my next match."

Shelton (3), the US Open runner-up, opens against Germany's Daniel Altmaier, the man who knocked out Rune. And the night session closes with another local favourite: Yi Zhou — a winner over Mattia Bellucci — takes on Italy's Lorenzo Musetti (24).

The rest of Friday, court by court

• Grandstand 2: Mannarino-Cobolli (6), Hanfmann-Tiafoe (7), De Minaur (9)-Molcan and Bublik (19)-Machac. The Australian, last week's Beijing runner-up, is back in action.
• Show Court 3: Sakamoto-Rublev (23), Berrettini-Nakashima (16), Khachanov (26)-Fery and Kecmanovic-Mensik (13).
• Court 4: Gea-Humbert (30), Halys-Blockx (27), Davidovich Fokina (25)-Brooksby and F. Cerundolo (21)-Safiullin.

All matches start at 12:00 local time (06:00 in Spain), except the Stadium Court night session, not before 18:00 (12:00 in Spain).

First round: Rune's fall, Tsitsipas' revival

The biggest name already out is Holger Rune. The Dane, back on tour a few weeks ago after almost a year out with a ruptured Achilles, lost to Daniel Altmaier (1-6, 7-6(5), 6-4) in just his second tournament since returning. Carlos Alcaraz, who practised with him in Murcia in August, sent a message of support: "It's a slow process. The injury he had, it's a really complicated one... I'm really happy to see him back on court. He has to be patient."

The opposite story belongs to Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Greek had to come through qualifying and on Thursday beat Kimmer Coppejans (6-3, 7-5) to keep a striking record intact: he has never lost his opening match in Shanghai (6-0). Up to No. 38 in the live rankings, he already has a second-round opponent: 18th seed Luciano Darderi, on Saturday.

Other first-round notes:

• Berrettini, with 23 aces and without facing a single break point, came from a set down against Aleksandar Kovacevic (6-7(3), 6-1, 6-4). Today he meets Nakashima (16) on Show Court 3.
• Hanfmann took the marathon against Majchrzak in three tie-breaks (6-7(4), 7-6(3), 7-6(7)). Today's reward: Tiafoe (7).
• Arnaldi blitzed Bernard Tomic in 52 minutes (6-3, 6-1), the Australian back in a Masters 1000 main draw; the Italian gets Fritz (11) on Saturday, with the American 12th in the Race to Turin.
• J.M. Cerundolo (6-4, 6-4 over Mejia) and Struff (6-4, 6-4 over Landaluce) also won and now await Alcaraz and Medvedev respectively.

The favourites' rackets, in our catalog

• Novak Djokovic — Head Speed MP 2026from 195,49 €: the Speed-line racket the Serb used to claim his 102nd title in Beijing.
• Hubert Hurkacz — Yonex VCORE 98 (8th gen)from 236,95 €: the VCORE 98 he used to fire 19 aces on debut; Brandon Nakashima plays with it too.
• Alexander Zverev — Head Gravity Tour Zverev 2026from 228,95 €: the German's own edition, his weapon in the Roland Garros-US Open double.
• Ben Shelton — Yonex EZONE 98 (8th gen)from 247,99 €: the EZONE 98 of the US Open runner-up.
• Stefanos Tsitsipas and Jakub Mensik — Wilson Blade 98 16x19 v10from 169,99 €: the Blade 98 v10 of two generations: the revived Tsitsipas and the Czech (13), in action today against Kecmanovic.
• Frances Tiafoe — Yonex Percept 97from 219,99 €: today against Hanfmann after the German's marathon.
• Taylor Fritz and Andrey Rublev — HEAD Radical MP Auxeticfrom 188,95 €: Fritz (11), Saturday against Arnaldi with Turin in his sights; Rublev (23), today against Japan's Sakamoto.
• Carlos Alcaraz — Babolat Pure Aero 98 (Gen 9)from 269,99 €: the second seed and Tokyo champion debuts on Saturday against J.M. Cerundolo.
• Still outside the catalog: Alex de Minaur's Wilson Ultra Pro 99 and Alexander Bublik's Diadem Project Bublik 98.

What's next: Saturday

The second round will be completed on Saturday with four confirmed match-ups: Alcaraz-Juan Manuel Cerundolo, Medvedev-Struff, Fritz-Arnaldi and Tsitsipas-Darderi. Then comes the decisive stretch — round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals — and a final that closes the tournament on Sunday 18 October.