Shanghai Masters 2024: Sinner, Alcaraz and Djokovic advance to third round

Shanghai Masters 2024: Top seeds Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic won their respective matches to advance to the third round.

In Short

• Djokovic overcame Michelsen in two tough tiebreaks
• Sinner defeated Japan's Taro Daniel 6-4, 6-1
• Alcaraz now sets up a clash with Yibing W

Novak Djokovic needed all his experience and resilience to overcome a spirited challenge from American Alex Michelsen, advancing to the third round of the 2024 Shanghai Masters with a 7-6(7/3), 7-6(11/9) victory on Saturday. The four-time Shanghai champion admitted it took time to "get the rust off" in a match where the 20-year-old Michelsen pushed him to the limit.

Despite an early setback in the first set, where Michelsen broke Djokovic to take a 4-1 lead, the Serbian fought back to level the set and win the tiebreak 7-3. The second set followed a similar script, with Michelsen battling back to force another tiebreak. Djokovic, however, remained composed, saving set points to clinch a 13-11 tiebreak and secure his place in the next round.

"I was surprised by how well Michelsen played," Djokovic said afterward. "It took me a little time to get the rust off, but I'm glad I stayed calm in the key moments." The packed stadium erupted as Djokovic charmed the local crowd, first by speaking Mandarin and then by addressing them in Shanghainese, sending them into a frenzy.

Meanwhile, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and second-seeded Carlos Alcaraz cruised through their respective matches in much more straightforward fashion. Sinner defeated Japan's Taro Daniel 6-4, 6-1 in just over an hour, continuing his stellar season, which has already seen him lift six titles. The Italian will next face Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who overcame Botic van de Zandschulp in a tight three-setter.

Alcaraz, fresh from his China Open triumph, made light work of local favorite Shang Juncheng, dispatching the Chinese star 6-2, 6-2 in just 76 minutes. The Spaniard fired 14 winners and broke his opponent's serve four times to improve to 2-0 against Shang on the ATP Tour. Alcaraz now sets up a clash with Yibing Wu, who stormed past Nicolas Jarry 6-2, 6-1 in his previous match.

Other notable results on Saturday included Jakub Mensik's upset win over No. 6 seed Andrey Rublev, prevailing 6-7(7), 6-4, 6-3, and Alexander Shevchenko's victory against No. 27 seed Francisco Cerundolo 7-6(7), 7-5. No. 20 seed Alexei Popyrin also advanced to the next round.