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Novak Djokovic is back on Chinese soil.

It is a treat not only for the local adoring fans, but also for the four-time Rolex Shanghai Masters champion Djokovic.

“I wanted to play in China… I said, ‘Okay, I need to play the tournament in Shanghai, it’s the biggest event in China and one of the great 1000 events we have on Tour’. I missed being in China,” Djokovic told ATP Media.

“It’s been a while, five years. A lot has happened in the meantime in those five years for me and my career, so I was looking forward to coming and experiencing the love and energy and support that I’ve been getting from Chinese fans all these years.”

Making his 10th Shanghai appearance, the 37-year-old has long felt warm support from Chinese fans stretched across the globe. Now Djokovic is competing in their backyard for the first time since 2019.

#NextGenATP Shang Juncheng continued his inspired form on home turf as he surged into the second round of the Rolex Shanghai Masters.

The 19-year-old’s prowess from the back of the court was on full display as he battled through fellow #NextGenATP player Coleman Wong, claiming a 6-4, 6-4 victory. Shang fell behind an early break in the second set but soon clicked into gear, rattling off four games on the spin to cross the line in one hour and 36 minutes.

Sealed with a kiss ?

Juncheng Shang defeats Coleman Wong 6-4 6-4 to reach the second round in Shanghai for the first time.@SH_RolexMasters | #RolexShanghaiMasters | #NextGenATP pic.twitter.com/IdISvOa4Ek

Shang showed glimpses of the reliable tennis that propelled him to his maiden ATP Tour title at the Chengdu Open two weeks ago, establishing himself as the second Chinese man to lift a tour-level trophy.

The No. 52 in the PIF ATP Rankings has set a popcorn second-round contest against World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, who is fresh off claiming his fourth tour-level title of the year at the China Open in Beijing.

Carlos Alcaraz continued his perfect year against his great rival Jannik Sinner with a thrilling championship-match victory on Wednesday at the China Open.

The Spaniard dug deep for a 6-7(6), 6-4, 7-6(3) triumph against World No. 1 Sinner to lift the title at the ATP 500 in Beijing. Alcaraz let slip a break lead in both the first and third sets but reeled off seven straight points from 0/3 in the deciding-set tie-break to prevail in an absorbing three-hour, 21-minute encounter, the longest match in tournament history.

“He could [have won] in two, I could win in two, he could win in three. It was a really close match,” said Alcaraz. “Jannik, once again, he showed that he’s the best player in the world, at least for me. The level that he’s playing, it’s unbelievable. It’s a really high quality of tennis. Of shots, physically, mentally, he’s a beast.”

BEIJING CHAMPION ?

In a breathtaking final, @carlosalcaraz fights back to defeat the defending champion Sinner 6-7(6) 6-4 7-6(3) for the #ChinaOpen title!@chinaopen pic.twitter.com/idvMd6LRiz

Alcaraz now leads his Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Sinner to 6-4 after winning all three of their encounters this season (Indian Wells, Roland Garros, Beijing). The pair’s rivalry, which is set to remain a major headline-maker on the ATP Tour for years to come, has swung back and forth since their first tour-level clash in 2021, but this marks the first time that either man has won three matches in a row against the other.

Gael Monfils delivered a vintage performance to kickstart his 2024 campaign at the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Wednesday.

The 38-year-old’s explosive game was on full display as he overpowered Bosnian Damir Dzumhur 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the second round. Monfils crushed 22 winners, according to Infosys ATP Stats, to extend their Lexus ATP Head2Head series lead against Dzumhur to 3-0.

Putting on a show ?@Gael_Monfils moves through to Round 2 in Shanghai.@SH_RolexMasters | #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/x4zfnueVBL

“It was not easy, Damir is a really fast player,” Monfils said after his one-hour and 21-minute victory. “It was a little bit slower with these conditions, so it helped him stay in the points. I couldn’t really power him off the court, but it also helped me sometimes. So, at the end of the day, I tried to focus on my game and use my serve and forehand as much as I can.”

Monfils, the No. 46 in the PIF ATP Rankings, is making his seventh appearance in Shanghai, where his most memorable run came in 2013 after he downed Roger Federer en route to the quarter-finals. He will face Sebastian Baez in the second round this year at the ATP Masters 1000 event.

Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori made the perfect start to their all-important Asian swing with a dazzling run to the China Open title in Beijing.

The third seeds defeated Wimbledon champions Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara 4-6, 6-3, 10-5 in a thrilling final on Wednesday to capture their third ATP Tour title of 2024. Bolelli and Vavassori's latest victory represented another big step in their qualification bid for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.

Sealed by the italian duo ??@BolelliSimone and Vavassori defeat Patten/Heliovaara to become the 2024 #ChinaOpen Men's Doubles Champions ?@ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/3xfaxi89EU

“We played four really good matches [and] we really enjoyed our time here,” Bolelli said after lifting the trophy. “I’m very happy to share this title with Andrea, we’re having a really good season so we will try to enjoy it and keep going.”

Bolelli and Vavassori are third in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings, 465 points clear of fourth-placed Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson, and are in strong contention to make their maiden team appearance at the season-ending finale in Turin. 

The Rolex Shanghai Masters begins on Wednesday, with a mix of former Top 10 stars and #NextGenATP standouts competing on the ATP Masters 1000 event's opening day.

Two Chinese players will play on Stadium Court: 2023 Dallas champion Wu Yibing will take on Sumit Nagal and Shang Juncheng will face Coleman Wong.

View the full Wednesday order of play below to see when Gael Monfils, Kei Nishikori, Marin Cilic and more are scheduled to be on court.

ORDER OF PLAY - WEDNESDAY, 2 OCTOBER 2024


STADIUM COURT start 12:30 p.m.

[WC] Wu Yibing (CHN) vs Sumit Nagal (IND)
Gael Monfils (FRA) vs Damir Dzumhur (BIH)



After Carlos Alcaraz defeated Daniil Medvedev in straight sets on Tuesday evening in the China Open semi-finals, something funny happened.

Medvedev, who had lost, covered his mouth and began whispering to Alcaraz. The 28-year-old gestured to his chest, then his hair. Alcaraz found it hilarious and cracked up.

“I told Carlos next match I'm going to paint my hair blond and put 'Botic' here. Maybe this can help,” Medvedev later said. “Today I played pretty well. I don't see how I could beat him today… Next match I need to try something. Maybe throw him off a little bit. But it's a joke, of course.”

Medvedev referenced Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, who stunned Alcaraz in the second round of the US Open. The Spaniard has not lost a set en route to the Beijing final.

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are 23 and 21, respectively. But they do not play like it, comport themselves like people that age, nor are they viewed as “young”.

Both have already bloomed into full-blown superstars and are poised to lead the sport both at the present and into the future. Showdowns between the pair are not simply tennis matches. They are events, spectacles with the buildup of a heavyweight boxing fight, full of anticipation. Their clash in the final of the China Open on Wednesday will be no different.

Alcaraz will take a 5-4 lead in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series into the championship match of the ATP 500. But anything can happen as the two meet for the second consecutive year in Beijing. The only guarantee is excitement.

“It’s going to be a tough match. We know each other very well now, but every match is different, so the situation on the court is also a bit different than it was the last two matches. But let’s see,” Sinner said after his semi-final win against Buyunchaokete. “I’m happy to be here again in the final.”

Both men enter the clash on extended winning streaks. Sinner has emerged victorious from 15 consecutive matches and Alcaraz has won eight in a row.

The best players in the world are ready to take on the ATP Masters 1000 event of the Asian Swing, the Rolex Shanghai Masters.

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz lead the way, while all eyes will be on Novak Djokovic's return to tournament action. ATPTour.com looks at 10 things to watch in Shanghai.

1) Djokovic back in action: The Serbian, who played one Davis Cup match the week after the US Open, is playing his first tournament since the season’s final major, where he suffered a stunning third-round exit. Djokovic is a four-time champion in Shanghai, where he will try to climb into a Nitto ATP Finals qualifying position. The ninth-placed player in the PIF ATP Live Race will take on Buyunchaokete or #NextGenATP American Alex Michelsen in his opening match.

2) Sinner surging: The No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings has found a hot stretch of form, winning the Cincinnati Open, US Open and reaching the final in Beijing, where he will face Alcaraz. With six titles to his name this year, the Italian will try to add a Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 crown to his resume. Sinner will open against Taro Daniel or a qualifier. He could face Medvedev, Alcaraz and Djokovic during his run.

The most gripping Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry of the moment will add another chapter on Wednesday when Jannik Sinner plays Carlos Alcaraz in the China Open final.

Sinner set the blockbuster showdown with a 6-3, 7-6(3) victory against home favourite Buyunchaokete Tuesday evening in the Beijing semi-finals.

“It’s going to be a tough match. We know each other very well now, but every match is different, so the situation on the court is also a bit different than it was the last two matches. But let’s see,” Sinner said in his on-court interview. “I’m happy to be again here in the final. My season is going very, very good and playing finals is always a great moment. I just hope tomorrow is going to be a good match from both of us.”

That grip change tho ?@janniksin | @ChinaOpen | #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/VeDM7xNI4f

One year ago, Sinner defeated Alcaraz in the Beijing semi-finals en route to lifting the trophy. It was part of his red-hot finish to the season that rolled into 2024, when the Italian became the first player from his country to claim the No. 1 PIF ATP Ranking.

Never count out Arthur Fils at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships.

The #NextGenATP Frenchman on Tuesday added a dramatic victory against Ugo Humbert to his lung-busting campaign at the ATP 500 to clinch the title in Tokyo. Fils saved a championship point in the second-set tie-break before prevailing 5-7, 7-6(6), 6-3 to earn his third tour-level crown.

WHAT IT MEANS ?

Arthur Fils is your champion in Tokyo ?@japanopentennis | #kinoshitajotennis pic.twitter.com/nPfmgRugAo

“Honestly I don’t know [how I turned it around],” said Fils, who appeared to struggle with an injury to his left leg for much of the second set. “After 5-all in the first, I was feeling dead on the court. He was playing unbelievable shots. It was a very tight first set. I got a lot of break points and didn’t break. He’s such a great champion and it was very tough.

“I tried my best into the second set and then I saved one match point. Everything in tennis can turn in only one second, and it turned. So I’m very happy, but I could have lost today.”

Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool dug deep to clinch a maiden ATP Tour title early in their fledgling partnership Tuesday at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships.

The two Britons overcame Ariel Behar and Robert Galloway 6-4, 4-6, 12-10 to lift the trophy in just their second event together. Cash and Glasspool were on the brink of defeat when match point down at 9/10 in the Match Tie-break, but they reeled off three points in a row from there to seal a 78-minute triumph at the ATP 500 in Tokyo.

? Doubles champions in Tokyo ?

British duo Cash and Glasspool lift the trophy after defeating Galloway/Behar 6-4 4-6 [12-10]!@japanopentennis | #kinoshitajotennis pic.twitter.com/ilgJcbKMzE

Both teams produced rock-solid serving performances inside Ariake Coliseum, where each finished the match having won 82 per cent (37/45) of points behind first deliveries, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Yet Cash and Glasspool, who last week reached the Hangzhou quarter-finals in their first tournament together, held their nerve late to become the second all-British pair to triumph in Tokyo after Andy Murray and Jamie Murray in 2011.

It is the biggest title of Cash’s career and his third tour-level title overall after the 28-year-old lifted two ATP 250 crowns alongside his Tokyo championship-match opponent Galloway earlier this year. Glasspool is now a five-time ATP Tour champion after winning his second ATP 500 title (Hamburg 2022 w/Heliovaara).

Carlos Alcaraz’s red-hot run of hard-court form shows no sign of slowing down at the China Open.

The Spaniard on Tuesday overcame Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-3 to reach the final at the ATP 500 in Beijing. Alcaraz prevailed in a high-quality first set that featured five breaks of serve before accelerating past Medvedev in the second to wrap an 88-minute semi-final triumph.

“I think we both started the match pretty well,” said Alcaraz after extending his winning streak to eight tour-level matches. “It was a little bit unusual, with serve being broken many times in the first set. I broke his serve [for 3-2] and then in the next game, I don’t know what happened to me. I probably lost focus a little bit, missed a few first serves that against Daniil on a hard court is a really important weapon. You have to put good first serves in to put yourself in the position to attack.

“I’m really happy that I didn’t lose my focus too long in the first set. I recovered it as soon as I got broken, and I’m really happy that at the end of the set I was able to play really good tennis in the return game and then serving at 6-5. I did a really good game. After that, once you are one set up, it’s a little bit easier, playing against Daniil with more confidence.”

Statement in Beijing ?@carlosalcaraz outclasses Medvedev to reach his fifth tour-level final this season.@ChinaOpen | #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/ow9zdMozd5

Novak Djokovic has long been considered a wall on the tennis court. That took new meaning on Sunday, when he spent time at the Great Wall of China.

In the spirit of ‘Play Big’, Lacoste hosted a special event at the Ju Yong Guan pass in Beijing. Located in the Changping district, Ju Yong Guan is one of the best-preserved passes along the Great Wall of China.

[ATP APP]

Photo credit: Lacoste
Ambassadors, celebrities and media were among those who attended the event, where a tennis court was set up. Djokovic enjoyed hitting some balls with Chinese actor Wang Yibo.

Yibo wrote on Instagram: “I’m truly honoured and delighted to have played tennis with an Olympic Champion at the iconic Great Wall! Big thanks to @lacoste , and thank you Nole @djokernole ! I'm already looking forward to our next match, will keep training hard and play big.”

Carlos Alcaraz climbed to second in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin on Monday when he reached the China Open semi-finals. How far from first is the Spaniard?

Jannik Sinner still leads Alcaraz by 2,990 points in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, which serves as an indicator for ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF. The Italian is in very good position to become the first Italian to claim the honour.

Alcaraz is well placed to finish in the year-end Top 2 for the third consecutive season. Two years ago, aged 19, he earned ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF. Last season, he finished No. 2.

PIF ATP Live Race To Turin (as of 30 September)

Alcaraz's hopes of ending the season at No. 1 are not completely dashed, either, with plenty of points still up for grabs in the next month and a half. But to put any pressure on Sinner, Alcaraz must continue winning, starting with his Beijing semi-final against Daniil Medvedev.

Three players secured memorable milestones Sunday when they triumphed on the ATP Challenger Tour.

#NextGenATP Edas Butvilas earned his maiden Challenger crown while Jacob Fearnley and Alexander Ritschard are set to crack the Top 100 of the PIF ATP Rankings on Wednesday following their title runs.

The 20-year-old Butvilas won the LTP Challenger in Charleston, South Carolina, where he became the first lucky loser champion at that level since February 2023 (Matteo Gigante, Tenerife). Butvilas downed American Nishesh Basavareddy 6-4, 6-3 in the final.

Entering the 2024 season, there had only been two Lithuanian winners in Challenger history: Ricardas Berankis and Laurynas Grigelis. But Lithuania has two #NextGenATP players who have added their names to the mix this year: Vilius Gaubas, who won the Cordenons Challenger, and Butvilas.

Up eight places to 14th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, Butvilas is aiming to make a late push for maiden qualification for the 20-and-under Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF, which runs from 18-22 December. His countryman Gaubas is ninth.

Arthur Fils is one of the brightest young stars in tennis and he has shown that this week at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships, where he is into the final.

The Frenchman, who is first in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, is still learning new things about life on Tour. ATPTour.com caught up with Fils earlier in the year to learn about what he enjoys about traveling, his favourite places to visit, his walk-on song and more.

Are there two essential non-tennis items you would always take with you when on Tour?
A speaker, and city clothes.

Have you ever forgotten an important item when going on Tour?
If I forget my racquet, then of course it’s a big problem! But I think for me, I cannot play if I forget my headphones. I'm always [tuned] into music, and if I forget my headphones, I'm going to play badly for sure.

What is your walk-on song?
It depends, but a lot of French rap, and there is one French rapper, called Gradur.

Arthur Fils’ reaction said it all.

After hitting a final forehand passing shot to close out a 7-6(8), 7-6(10) victory against Holger Rune in the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships semi-finals, the Frenchman fell to the court.

“It’s the best passing I ever hit in my whole life, man. The passing went crazy. I was going exactly for this one and it went so good out of my racquet. It was an amazing one,” Fils said in his on-court interview. “When I went to the passing, I got big cramps in the quads and I said to myself, ‘Okay, I need to win this one because otherwise I don’t know how I’m going to do it’.

“I saw the passing and just laid down because I was completely tired [from] the match and all the week.”

The final 2 in Tokyo! ? @japanopentennis | #kinoshitajotennis pic.twitter.com/AGbhrki9Vg

Jannik Sinner now leads the ATP Tour wins for the 2024 season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

The Italian claimed his 58th victory of the season (58-5), breaking a tie with Alexander Zverev for the ATP Tour-lead, by easing into the China Open semi-finals on Monday evening. The No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings eliminated big-hitting Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-2, 7-6(6).

“We always try to improve day by day and I feel like the result is coming in what level you’re playing throughout the season, how consistent you are as a player,” Sinner said in his on-court interview. “You also have to be ready mentally to do that. So we just try to stay in the present moment. We know what we have done this season, which is great for me. But every match we see we can improve, which is very good.”

14-match winning streak ?@janniksin is into his 10th semi-final in 2024 after saving set points to down Lehecka 6-2 7-6(6)!@ChinaOpen | #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/3fKt7u3I7I

The 23-year-old faced two set points at 4/6 in the second-set tie-break, but rallied to close out his victory in one hour and 45 minutes. He will next take on fourth seed Andrey Rublev or home favourite Buyunchaokete.

Ugo Humbert successfully halted Tomas Machac’s mid-match momentum on Monday to book his spot in the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships final in Tokyo.

The Frenchman raised his level after a tough second set to seal a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 semi-final triumph at the hard-court ATP 500. Humbert produced his best tennis of the match to reel off four straight games from 2-2 in the third set to advance to his third ATP Tour final of the season (Marseille, Dubai).

?? ALLEZ LES BLEUS ??@HumbertUgo overcomes Tomas Machac 6-3 3-6 6-2 to reach his 7th tour-level final.@japanopentennis | #kinoshitajotennis pic.twitter.com/G1B7brvnRd

“It feels good. It was not my best match this week, but I still have the win so I’m very proud of that,” said Humbert. “It was not easy. I had difficulties in the second set, but in the end, I found the solution and stayed calm. I’m into my seventh ATP Tour final, so I’m very happy.

“It was not easy, because he didn’t allow a lot of rhythm... At the end of the second set, I tried to speak to myself a little bit. After, the last four games were amazing.”