Novak Djokovic has been handed a challenging Shanghai Masters draw, while Carlos Alcaraz appears to have a more favorable route. Djokovic, who reached the semi-finals at the China Open, will need to bring his best form to navigate a difficult path at the ATP Masters 1000 event.
Djokovic's Tough Route
The 39-year-old could face Lorenzo Musetti, Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton and Alexander Zverev just to reach the final. His campaign is set to begin against Hubert Hurkacz or James Duckworth.
Djokovic's return to form on the Asian swing follows a disappointing US Open, where he was eliminated in the opening round. The 24-time Grand Slam champion has also dealt with health issues this season.
Alcaraz's Favorable Path
Carlos Alcaraz, who leads the bottom half of the draw, has a bye into the second round. The Spaniard will face either Juan Manuel Cerundolo or a qualifier in his opening match.
If Djokovic makes it to the final, Alcaraz is the most likely opponent. Zverev's campaign begins against either Wu Yibing or a qualifier.
Sinner Withdraws
Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the tournament due to ongoing injury issues. The 2024 Shanghai champion stated: "Unfortunately I won't be able to play at the Rolex Shanghai Masters this year as I had hoped always enjoy playing in front of the Shanghai fans."
"I'm very sorry that I won't be able to do so next week. Thank you for all your support. I'm looking forward to seeing you again next year!"
Sinner's last competitive match was at Wimbledon, where he dropped just three sets en route to winning the title. Djokovic, meanwhile, has spoken about his struggles this season, saying: "Yeah, I mean, look, I don't want to go into details because then it's going to sound like I'm whining about something or looking for excuses."
"Truth is that this year has been a big, big struggle for me with few particular issues that I've been having. I've been just trying to find different ways to at least get myself in decent condition physically and health-wise to be on the court and compete with the player across the net. If the player beats me, if he's better, great."
