Just like the China Open, the Shanghai Masters will be making its comeback on the ATP Tour for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.
A lot has changed since then, especially since the playing field for this upcoming event will look much different than before, but SBOTOP tennis fans will nevertheless get their share of Shanghai Masters 2023 highlights.
The biggest news so far is Novak Djokovic pulling out, citing the need to recharge his batteries. The current top-ranked ATP player has had a great history here in China, so his withdrawal means good news for the rest of the pack.
The particular beneficiaries of Djokovic’s absence are Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev. Alcaraz can close in on the top spot of the ATP rankings, while Medvedev’s title defence is going to be a bit easier, according to the updated Shanghai Masters 2023 odds.
Medvedev and Sinner headline Shanghai pack
Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner are two players to watch out for in this upcoming tournament, and it just so happens that these two will face off in the China Open final tonight.
Sinner has improved his form after hitting a rough patch following his Canadian Open triumph last August. After exiting early both at the US Open and the Cincinnati Masters, the young Italian international is about to play his 12th ATP final in Beijing.
He has raised eyebrows after he eliminated world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets in the semi-final. Sinner, previously at No. 7, is now 4th in the ATP rankings because of the said win.
Beating Medvedev later is next on Sinner’s checklist because he hasn’t done it before after six tries. The 22-year-old said that he’ll have a different approach to try to put an end to his losing streak.
Medvedev is the defending champion and is aiming for a repeat in Shanghai. The Russian, who came up short against Djokovic in the US Open final last month, makes another trip to the title match in Beijing.
After facing Sinner in the Beijing final, the No. 3 ranked player is poised to make another deep run in Shanghai, and he’ll open his title defence against either Cristian Garin or Aleksandar Kovacevic.
Back in 2019, Medvedev had a spectacular run en route to winning the Shanghai Masters, not losing a single set and defeating the likes of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev in the last two rounds.
Alcaraz’s opportunity to reclaim top spot
With 1,000 ranking points up for grabs in Shanghai and Djokovic dropping points because of his withdrawal, Carlos Alcaraz has a big opportunity to cut into the Serb’s lead at the top of the ATP rankings.
Fortunately for Alcaraz, he looks to have a favourable draw in Shanghai.
He will make his tournament debut against either Nuno Borges or Gregoire Barrere, and then he might get to square off against the likes of Karen Khachanov, Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, and Stefanos Tsitsipas – all of whom he has beaten before. The next top seed behind him is Daniil Medvedev, and he won’t meet him until, probably, the final.
Alcaraz has been superb on hard courts this season, but he will be seeking his first hard-court trophy since Indian Wells. His most recent title was winning this year’s Wimbledon after he downed Novak Djokovic in the final last July.
Polmans loses his cool in the qualifiers
Meanwhile, the Shanghai Masters qualifiers are underway, and Marc Polmans made it to the headlines for the wrong reasons.
After beating Alibek Kachmazov in his first qualifying match, the world No. 140 was up against Stefano Napolitano, and it looked like he was on his way after claiming the first set, 7-6.
With the second set at 6-6, Polmans was just one point away from victory, which would have given him a spot in the main draw of the Shanghai Masters, but his frustrations boiled over when he came up short in converting the match point.
He appeared to lose his temper when he seemingly tried to hit the tennis ball out of the court, but it ended up hitting the umpire in the face. As a result, Polmans was immediately disqualified from the ATP 1000 event.
This was not the first time a tennis player was disqualified for such an incident. Back at the 2020 US Open, Novak Djokovic was disqualified after he accidentally hit a line judge.
Djokovic had to give up $250,000 in prize money, and he was also fined $10,000. Polmans is likely to be fined as well.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE TENNIS STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
