Shanghai Masters 2024: Novak Djokovic vs Alex Michelsen preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (4) Novak Djokovic vs Alex Michelsen
Date: October 5, 2024
Tournament: Shanghai Masters 2024
Round: Second round (Round of 64)
Venue: Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena, Shanghai, China
Category: ATP Masters 1000
Surface: Hard-court (Outdoor)
Prize Money: $8,995,555
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN | India - Sony
Novak Djokovic vs Alex Michelsen preview
Four-time champion Novak Djokovic is set to begin his 2024 Shanghai Masters campaign on Saturday, October 5, with a highly anticipated second-round match against American world No. 43 Alex Michelsen.
Novak Djokovic enters the 2024 Shanghai Masters with a 32-8 record for the season, despite a challenging start. He surprisingly failed to secure a title in the first half of the year, losing in the Australian Open semifinals to Jannik Sinner, and in the Monte Carlo Masters semifinals to Casper Ruud. A knee injury forced him to withdraw from his French Open quarterfinal against Ruud.
Djokovic made an impressive run at Wimbledon, reaching the final, but was swept aside by Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets. His season highlight came at the Olympics, where he won the gold medal, completing his career Golden Slam and avenging his loss to Alcaraz. Most recently, Djokovic was seen at the US Open, where he suffered a surprising third-round loss to Alexei Popyrin.
Alex Michelsen, meanwhile, is enjoying a breakout season on the ATP Tour, compiling a 27-25 match record and reaching a career-high world ranking of No. 43. He started the year strong with a third-round appearance at the Australian Open, his best Grand Slam result to date. Michelsen has also reached two finals this season—at the Hall of Fame Open and Winston-Salem, where he finished runner-up to Marcos Giron and Lorenzo Sonego, respectively.
Michelsen has impressed on all surfaces this year, with quarterfinal runs in Los Cabos, Geneva, Mallorca, and most recently, Washington. His last appearance was at the Japan Open, where he also reached the last eight as a qualifier, defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas before losing to Tomas Machac.
Michelsen opened his campaign in Shanghai with a 6-3, 6-4 win over local favorite Bu Yunchaokete.
Novak Djokovic vs Alex Michelsen head-to-head
Novak Djokovic and Alex Michelsen have not yet faced each other in professional competition, so their head-to-head record stands at 0-0.
Novak Djokovic vs Alex Michelsen odds
(Odds will be updated once available)
Novak Djokovic vs Alex Michelsen prediction
Novak Djokovic has not competed since his disappointing exit at the US Open but is eager to make a strong start at the Shanghai Masters with the season nearing its end. Despite winning Olympic gold, he has yet to claim an ATP Tour title this year. His hard-court form has also been underwhelming, currently lingering with an 11-4 record.
In contrast, Alex Michelsen has impressed all year, particularly during the North American hard-court swing. He has also carried his form into Asia, performing well in both Japan and Shanghai so far. Michelsen opened his campaign in the latter with a dominant win in the first round, securing 82% of first-serve points, hitting 6 aces, and clocking 21 winners.
Djokovic enters the contest as the favorite on paper, but Michelsen’s recent results suggest a tough battle ahead. While Michelsen has the momentum on his side, Djokovic’s experience, especially on hard courts, should give him the edge. The Serb, a four-time Shanghai champion, is well-acquainted with the conditions and can also expect strong support from the crowd.
Pick: Djokovic in straight sets.