5 favorites to win Shanghai Masters 2024 ft. Novak Djokovic & Frances Tiafoe
Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner will lead the field at this year’s Shanghai Masters without defending champion Hubert Hurkacz. The Masters 1000 event will get underway on October 2.
While Djokovic holds a record four titles in Shanghai, Sinner will be the top seed by being the World No. 1 this year.
The two, however, will face many other title hopefuls over the next fortnight. Here, we take a look at the biggest contenders for the 2024 Shanghai Masters crown:
#5 Frances Tiafoe
Frances Tiafoe has the knack of staging improbable runs now and then. The fact that he enjoys playing on the big stage is no secret either. His recent run to the US Open semifinal despite not being his best was a testament to just that ability to conjure up fearless tennis under the spotlight.
The American’s record in Shanghai may not inspire much confidence but he will feel good about his prospects given the recent exploits in New York. He also played two tight matches against Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev, which would have given him just the right amount of practice (and made up for the early exit in Tokyo) coming into the Asian swing.
#4 Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev was the last man who lifted the Shanghai Masters title before the tournament was suspended amid Covid-19 restrictions. The Russian's 7-3 win-loss still adds up to a solid 70%. Add his affinity for the hardcourts to the mix and he comes across as a very intimidating opponent.
Medvedev’s recent run of form has not been encouraging given his first-round exits at the Canada Open and Cincinnati. He, however, bounced back to make the US Open quarterfinals where he pushed eventual champion Jannik Sinner to four sets. Given a little help from the draw, the Russian could surprise everyone with the results.
#3 Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz was primed for success at the Shanghai Masters last year. Seeded No. 1, he looked great but was stopped by an inspired Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round.
Twelve months on, the Spaniard has dropped off his level just that tad bit since the Olympics. Given that he had won two back-to-back Grand Slams at the French Open and Wimbledon and clinched the silver in Paris, the results pale in comparison. But he has begun to show signs of revival stringing together quite a few match wins.
However, Alcaraz has played a lot of tennis in recent weeks if you count the Laver Cup and Davis Cup duties (the China Open also ends just days ahead of the Shanghai Masters) and fatigue may kick in at some point.
#2 Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner has been the player to beat on hard courts this season, having captured both of the season’s Grand Slams played on the surface, the Australian and the US Open.
The Italian has played at the Shanghai Masters on one occasion, staging a decent run to the fourth round only to be bested by Ben Shelton in an epic three-set showdown. That, however, does not take away from his other successes in China.
Sinner had lifted the trophy in Beijing last year and is well on his way to staging another deep run at the tournament this year. He has also been selective about his tournaments since the US Open and could come into Shanghai fresher of the lot. All things considered, he will take some stopping.
#1 Four-time Shanghai Masters champ Novak Djokovic
As a four-time former champion, no other player can match the pedigree that Novak Djokovic has at the Shanghai Masters. His next-best opponents, three-time winner Andy Murray and two-time champ Roger Federer, have since retired. The Serb’s 12 appearances at the event have seen him win on four occasions and put together an impressive 40-8 win-loss record for an 83% winning percentage.
While he has not yet captured a title this season, Djokovic showed fans he was still motivated for big things by winning that elusive Olympics gold. Being back in Shanghai is bound to bring back good memories and he might as well open his account in the Chinese city.