Sinner and Alcaraz win openers at Shanghai Masters

Italy's satellite fig 1 Jannik Sinner and Spanish rival Carlos Alcaraz some enjoyed comfy victories successful their opening matches astatine the Shanghai Masters - conscionable 3 days aft contesting a melodramatic China Open final.

Sinner, 23, bounced backmost from losing to Alcaraz successful Beijing, cruising to a 6-1 6-4 triumph implicit Japan's Taro Daniel astatine the ATP 1,000 event.

The apical effect took conscionable 1 hr and 17 minutes to publication his spot successful the 3rd circular and followed a likewise destructive show from 3rd effect Alcaraz, who was connected tribunal a infinitesimal little successful his 6-2 6-2 triumph implicit China's Shang Juncheng.

It was the 21-year-old's 10th consecutive victory, with his China Open rubric pursuing wins for Team Europe astatine the Laver Cup successful September.

"I've been playing truly bully tennis lately and I'm conscionable trying to support that up," said four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz, who has won 4 titles connected the ATP Tour this year.

He volition adjacent play China's satellite fig 560 Yibing Wu, portion Sinner volition look 37th-ranked Martin Etcheverry successful the 3rd circular pursuing the Argentine's 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 7-5 triumph implicit the Netherlands' Botic van de Zandschulp. At 3 hours and 43 minutes, it was the longest lucifer successful the tournament's history.

Elsewhere, Russian sixth effect Andrey Rublev fell to a 6-7 (7-9) 6-4 6-3 decision by Czech Republic's Jakub Mensik.

Novak Djokovic volition beryllium successful enactment aboriginal connected Saturday, against 20-year-old American Alex Michelsen, arsenic the four-time Shanghai Masters victor aims for his 100th tour-level title.