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While Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz will headline the field at the 2024 Rolex Shanghai Masters, many of the eyes in China will be on their homegrown stars at the ATP Masters 1000 event.

Led by Zhang Zhizhen, Shang Juncheng and Wu Yibing, Chinese tennis has undergone an eye-catching rise on the ATP Tour over the past two years.

The impressive progress of the Asian nation's male stars was reflected earlier this month in Chengdu and Hangzhou. At the Chengdu Open, #NextGenATP star Shang became the first Chinese player to win an ATP Tour on home soil, while Zhang and Buyunchaokete made history at the Hangzhou Open by setting the first all-Chinese semi-final in ATP Tour history.

As they head to Shanghai, ATPTour.com assesses the Chinese contenders now aiming to make a splash on their home ATP Masters 1000 stage.

Zhang Zhizhen
Zhang has relished being the leading man of Chinese tennis for the past two years, becoming the first player from his country to crack the Top 100 (October 2022) and Top 50 (January 2024) in the PIF ATP Rankings.

Could Beijing be where Daniil Medvedev returns to the winner’s circle on the ATP Tour?

The No. 5 in the PIF ATP Rankings continued his China Open campaign in confident fashion on Monday afternoon, when he downed Flavio Cobolli 6-2, 6-4 at the ATP 500. Medvedev, who is chasing his first ATP Tour trophy since his Rome triumph in May 2023, delivered a typically resilient display to reach his sixth tour-level semi-final of the season.

Although Medvedev clinched victory with a straightforward scoreline, the 28-year-old faced 11 break points in his 88-minute quarter-final victory in the Chinese capital. The third seed saved all but one, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and responded well after Cobolli reclaimed an early break in the second set en route to sealing his win.

"Today was not an easy match, but I'm happy that I fought until the end," said Medvedev in his post-match press conference. "Actually some good points here and there. One amazing shot, probably one of the best shots of my life I think, at 0/30 in the last game. Super lucky, but you fight until the end, and sometimes you get these lucky shots."

? SEMI-FINALS ?@DaniilMedwed defeats Cobolli 6-2 6-4 to reach the final four for the sixth time this season.@ChinaOpen | #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/3Objutji9H

Carlos Alcaraz is a semi-finalist at the China Open once again.

The Spaniard on Monday delivered a high-quality 7-5, 6-2 victory against Karen Khachanov to book his last-four spot at the ATP 500 in Beijing. Alcaraz was a consistent threat in return games throughout the 96-minute encounter with Khachanov, who showcased plenty of quality himself but was unable to match the sheer relentlessness of his opponent from the baseline.

“I always try to be aggressive, hitting strong shots, and I feel like I’m not afraid to show that,” said Alcaraz, who has now won his past seven tour-level matches. “To try again and again. That’s what I’m feeling right now.

“In the past matches, everything went well, so I can’t complain at all. I know that I have to keep trying. I’m hitting the ball really well, I’m moving well, and I’m not letting my opponents show their best tennis. It’s like the match is in my style. That’s what I like and what I want in every match.”

Back-to-back Beijing semi-finals ?@carlosalcaraz returns to the final four at the @ChinaOpen.#ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/0zQ0p7szqO

Top seed Jannik Sinner faces a daunting draw at the Rolex Shanghai Masters.

The Italian could face three former No. 1 players in the PIF ATP Rankings — Daniil Medvedev in the quarter-finals, Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals and Novak Djokovic in the final — during his run at the Chinese ATP Masters 1000 event.

Sinner will begin his tournament against Japanese veteran Taro Daniel or a qualifier, with 31st seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry the first seeded opponent he could play. Also in his section of the draw are 14th seed Ben Shelton and 21st seed Arthur Fils, both potential fourth-round opponents.

Medvedev and 2019 Nitto ATP Finals champion Stefanos Tsitsipas are also in Sinner’s quarter of the Shanghai draw. The 2019 Shanghai champion Medvedev will open against Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild or a qualifier.

Third seed Alcaraz, who made the fourth round on his tournament debut last year, will face a #NextGenATP opponent, Shang Juncheng or Coleman Wong, in the second round. Big-serving Chilean Nicolas Jarry, the 25th seed, looms as a potential third-round foe.

Andrey Rublev has a huge opportunity to make a move in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin this week at the China Open in Beijing and improve his chances of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals for the fifth consecutive season.

Entering his second-round match on Monday against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Rublev is seventh in the Live Race. By Wednesday, the 26-year-old could climb to fifth.

Since fifth-placed Taylor Fritz and sixth-placed Casper Ruud lost early this week in Tokyo at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships, Rublev could make up ground on his rivals. 

Rublev would pass Ruud for sixth by reaching the Beijing final (3,810 points) and Fritz for fifth by lifting the trophy (3,980 points). He could play two matches Monday, needing to complete his match against Davidovich Fokina with in-form Chinese player Buyunchaokete waiting in the quarter-finals.

PIF ATP Live Race To Turin (as of 29 September)

There will be a new champion crowned in Tokyo after #NextGenATP star Arthur Fils muscled his way past defending champion Ben Shelton in a gripping quarter-final clash at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships. 

The 20-year-old brought some of his most ruthless tennis to edge past the explosive American, claiming a 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-6(2) victory in three hours. Both players were forced to battle through cramp in their bid to reach the last four, but it was the Frenchman who held his nerve. 

What. A. Match… ?

Fils cements his spot in the semis with a 7-5 6-7 7-6(2) win against Shelton after a phenomenal battle from both ?@japanopentennis | #kinoshitajotennis pic.twitter.com/dn5150vXVl

Fils’ punishing groundstrokes were on full display under the lights as he crushed 58 winners en route to a statement triumph, setting an eagerly anticipated semi-final clash with Holger Rune, who saved a match point to outlast home favourite Kei Nishikori.

With their Lexus ATP Head2Head series level at 1-1, their upcoming clash in the Japanese capital will be the first meeting on hard courts.

Winning is something that Carlos Alcaraz has become accustomed to on the ATP Tour. It is now second nature for the 21-year-old, who has just surpassed another milestone.

The second seed’s comprehensive 6-1, 6-2 triumph over Tallon Griekspoor in the second round of the China Open on Sunday constituted a 200th tour-level win for Alcaraz, who became the third player born in the 2000s to achieve this feat, joining Jannik Sinner and Felix Auger-Aliassime. 

“I’m really happy about it - 200 wins is a great number,” Alcaraz said of his latest achievement. “But I am already looking for the third hundred. I just want to keep going, to keep rolling. I am looking forward to playing matches and to keep doing the things that I am doing.”

Sealed in style ?

The moment @carlosalcaraz recorded his 200th tour-level win of his career.@ChinaOpen | #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/NzZNJneAXh

Despite the one-sided score in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, which is now 4-0 in favour of the Spaniard, the quality of shotmaking was palpable. It was lights out tennis from the off, and it wasn’t long before the No. 3 in the PIF ATP Rankings took a stranglehold on the match.

Holger Rune saved a match point to defeat home hope Kei Nishikori Sunday in Tokyo and continue his bid for a first ATP Tour title of the season.

The No. 14 in the PIF ATP Rankings rallied to overcome two-time Tokyo champion Nishikori 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 in two hours and 16 minutes to advance to the semi-finals at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships.

The Dane received a time violation while facing a match point serving at 3-5 in the deciding set, but found a big first serve to get him out of trouble and recovered to move one step closer to claiming his first title of the year. He has reached one final this season in Brisbane, where he lost 6-7(5), 4-6 to Grigor Dimitrov.

“His ball striking and feel on the ball was incredible and it was very challenging for me,” Rune said in his post-match interview. “I had to find another gear to be able to beat him and it was almost not enough, but I managed to find that level and find that fighting spirit to beat him.”

Rising to the occasion ⚡️@holgerrune2003 saves match point against Nishikori to advance to the final four in Tokyo.@japanopentennis | #kinoshitajotennis pic.twitter.com/UJjN0FTkEE

At age 21, Carlos Alcaraz keeps expanding his growing list of career achievements.

Already a four-time major champion who has ascended to World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, the Spaniard reached another milestone Sunday that places his name among several all-time greats.

Alcaraz earned his 200th tour-level win in the China Open second round when he defeated Tallon Griekspoor 6-1, 6-2. Alcaraz has just 52 career losses, giving him a 79 per cent tour-level winning percentage.

Among the 29 players to reach World No. 1, Alcaraz is the second fastest to record his 200th match win, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. Only John McEnroe had fewer losses at the time of recording his 200th match win (200-45).

Record At 200 Wins, All 29 Players To Reach World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings

Could Tomas Machac be dialling in at the perfect time to lift his maiden ATP Tour trophy in Tokyo?

The 23-year-old has seemingly tapped into the currents in the Japanese capital, breezing past #NextGenATP star Alex Michelsen on Sunday. With a stylish 7-6(2), 6-3 triumph, Machac is into his second ATP Tour semi-final at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships.

Machac struck 34 winners according to Infosys ATP Stats throughout their one hour and 35 minute clash, eventually outlasting Michelsen in the baseline exchanges. The Czech also fired eight aces, won 88 per cent of first-serve points and faced just one break point.

Achievement unlocked ??

Tomas Machac defeats Michelsen 7-6(2) 6-3 to reach his first ATP 500 semi-final.@japanopentennis | #kinoshitajotennis pic.twitter.com/UXMXHQsK9g

It was a commanding performance that was reflective of his ascent to No. 34 in the PIF ATP Rankings, backing up strong wins against Alexei Popyrin and Tommy Paul earlier in the week.

The rise of Buyunchaokete shows no sign of slowing down.

The Chinese player continued his ascent on Sunday when he upset Paris Olympics bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti 6-2, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals of the China Open in Beijing. He will next play fourth seed Andrey Rublev or Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Guess who? ?

Bu Yunchaokete grabs the biggest win of his career to reach the quarter-finals in Beijing.@ChinaOpen | #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/AHlKn81qQl

Before last week’s Hangzhou Open, Buyunchaokete had played just one ATP Tour event. The 22-year-old made his maiden tour-level semi-final at the ATP 250 and is now into the last eight at his first ATP 500 tournament.

“I’m really happy. I’m really enjoying playing at home, especially last week in Hangzhou, where I practised almost 15 years and here also at home, I’m in China,” he said in his post-match interview. “I was really looking forward to this tournament because it’s my first 500 here and last week was my first 250, so I’m really enjoying.”

Tallon Griekspoor will try to earn the biggest win of his career on Sunday evening when he faces second seed Carlos Alcaraz for a spot in the China Open quarter-finals.

ATPTour.com looks at five things to know about the No. 39 player in the PIF ATP Rankings before his big match in Beijing.

Tallon reached a career-high World No. 21 in November 2023
Griekspoor is currently the No. 1 Dutch player in the PIF ATP Rankings. Before 2021 he had never cracked the Top 100. He started his 2023 season at No. 95. Winning his maiden tour-level title at the ATP 250 event in Pune in January 2023, the Dutchman boosted his ranking early on in the season.

A third-round appearance at the Australian Open and semi-final run at the ATP 500 event in Rotterdam saw him steadily propel through the rankings. With another tour-level title at the ATP 250 event in 's-Hertogenbosch in front of his home crowd and a final run at the ATP 500 event in Washington, Griekspoor kept improving.

Showing consistency on the Tour throughout last season, including notable wins over Alexander Zverev and Hubert Hurkacz, he reached a career-high No. 21 in November 2023.

Who is the one person Ben Shelton would never reach out to in an emergency?

Hint: It’s the same person who he thinks is the biggest trash talker.

"Frances Tiafoe would not answer the phone. He's not answering," Shelton joked about one of his best friends on tour.

Who is someone outside Top 20 in the PIF ATP Rankings that Shelton hates to play? And the big question: Who does Shelton think is the greatest player of all time?

Watch social media influencer Sharky put the 21-year-old American on the spot in the latest Down the T interview. Find out Shelton's answers in the full video below.

Carlos Alcaraz, who won the silver medal at the Paris Olympics earlier this year, crossed paths with fellow athletes and Paris Olympics medalists on Friday in Beijing. He met table tennis singles and team silver medalist Truls Moregardh of Sweden, French team bronze medalists Alexis Lebrun and Felix Lebrun, and Simon Gauzy.

The players were in attendance for Alcaraz’s opening match against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. The Spaniard, making a second appearance at the China Open, met the players after his straight-sets win against the Frenchman. The table tennis stars are in China for an event that runs through 6 October.

The Lebrun brothers are friends with Eduoard Roger-Vasselin, who is competing in doubles with Santiago Gonzalez at the China Open. The countrymen watched the conclusion of the Alcaraz-Mpetshi Perricard match together.

"I have always enjoyed watching tennis and my brother (Alexis) and I try to play tennis when we are back home in Montpellier," said Felix, No. 5 in the World Table Tennis rankings.

"It was great to go to the China Open and see the best tennis players and also meet the different players like Alcaraz and (Daniil) Medvedev. Carlos is so fast and very dynamic on the court. He’s very good to watch and he is a nice guy as well. When we met him we talked a little bit about the Olympics and a little bit about his match, but it was a pleasure to meet him and it was great to watch him play."

A year ago, Daniil Medvedev made the final in Beijing. Will this be the edition when he breaks through and lifts the trophy at the China Open?

The third seed improved his chances by defeating familiar foe Adrian Mannarino 7-6(6), 6-2 in the second round on Saturday to book his quarter-final spot. He is now three wins from claiming his first tour-level title of 2024.

“It’s not easy to play, so I am happy that [in] the tie-break, [I] managed to save a set point," Medvedev said. "Two good serves, then return in the court, which was not enough. But tough match, tough battle, happy to win.”

75th tour-level quarter-final ?@DaniilMedwed rallies past Mannarino 7-6(6) 6-2! @ChinaOpen | #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/jBrghyqVwF

The No. 5 player in the PIF ATP Rankings had to dig deep against the Frenchman, who has always been a tough opponent for him. Down a set point at 5/6 in the first-set tie-break, Medvedev escaped when his opponent missed a return. He then looked more comfortable as the match progressed.

Qualifiers Jamie Murray and John Peers saved a match point against Brazilians Rafael Matos and Marcelo Melo to win 7-6(7), 3-6, 12-10 Saturday and advance to the quarter-finals of the China Open in Beijing.

Murray and Peers, who reached the 2015 Wimbledon final, faced match point at 9/10 in the match tie-break, having squandered one of their own at 9/8. The duo recovered to win the next three points and seal the match in one hour, 53 minutes. They won 79 per cent of first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats, en route to victory.

Murray and Peers next face Francisco Cerundolo and Nicolas Jarry, who upset second seeds and Australian Open champions Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden 7-5, 7-6(4). Flavio Cobolli and Lorenzo Musetti also shocked Neal Skupski and Michael Venus 6-2, 6-7(4), 10-7, with the Italians converting five of the nine break points they earned to down the fourth seeds.

Draper/Machac Reach Tokyo QFs
Jack Draper and Tomas Machac matched their last eight singles runs in Tokyo by reaching the quarter-finals in the doubles. The pair rallied to upset third seeds and recent Chengdu Open champions, Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul,  5-7, 6-2, 10-8 on Saturday at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships.

Draper and Machac won 84 per cent of their first-serve points to down the French duo, who sit 13th in the PIF ATP Doubles Race. Machac earlier caused another upset in his singles, overcoming Tommy Paul to advance to the last eight, where he faces #NextGenATP star Alex Michelsen.

Jannik Sinner’s steely resilience has been on full display so far this week at the China Open.

The No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings on Saturday notched his second consecutive comeback win at this year’s edition of the ATP 500 in Beijing. Sinner rallied past Roman Safiullin 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 to maintain his record of having reached at least the quarter-finals at every tour-level event he has played in 2024.

After coming from a set down to oust Nicolas Jarry in the opening round, Sinner again found himself in trouble in the Chinese capital after the free-hitting Safiullin broke serve twice en route to the opening set. Yet the top seed responded emphatically to seal a two-hour, 22-minute triumph on the Capital Group Diamond Court.

“A tough match. He’s an incredible player and we always have tough battles,” said Sinner. “This was our third encounter, so we know each other a bit. He returns very well, and he was serving well at important moments. So I tried to keep up mentally, which today was very tough.

“Especially on these kinds of days, when maybe you don’t feel at your 100 per cent, to find a way through means so much to me. He’s an incredible player, so I knew I had to raise my level when it counted.”

Kei Nishikori’s bid for a hat-trick of titles at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships is building momentum.

The home favourite on Saturday breezed past Jordan Thompson 6-2, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals at his home ATP 500 for the sixth time in 11 main-draw appearances. Nishikori broke his opponent’s serve five times in a commanding 83-minute performance inside Ariake Coliseum, where he previously lifted the trophy in 2012 and 2014.

Witnessing a Nishikori masterclass ✨@keinishikori reaches his first ATP 500 quarter-final since 2021!

@japanopentennis | #kinoshitajotennis pic.twitter.com/pP3CvzlqQA

“I think I played a little bit too good,” joked Nishikori after the match. “I surprised myself, maybe my team is also a little bit surprised. I played really well. Very solid, very focused. This is how I wanted to play. Play aggressive with not many mistakes. It was almost perfect today."

Nishikori was razor sharp on return throughout his second-round victory, particularly when facing second serves. The Japanese star won 67 per cent (14/21) of points against Thompson’s second delivery, according to Infosys ATP Stats, en route to reaching his first ATP 500 quarter-final since Washington 2021.

Will #NextGenATP star Alex Michelsen add a maiden title to his breakthrough season on the ATP Tour?

The 20-year-old advanced past Christopher O’Connell 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday to reach the quarter-finals at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo.

The qualifier, who rallied to upset fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the opening round, struck 23 winners to dismantle O’Connell in one hour and 19 minutes. The No. 49 player in the PIF ATP Rankings also saved all three break points he faced to progress to his second ATP 500 quarter-final of the season (Washington).

“The quality of these matches was good, getting my rhythm here. I feel like I’ve been attacking really well, coming to the net a lot, especially today,” Michelsen said in his post-match interview, “I felt like I served really well and won a lot of points on that and that’s what I’ve been working on, so I’m super happy with that.

“I’m only going to play a couple more tournaments this year. I’m feeling really good to be honest, [I’m] going to finish the year strong.”

It will be a jam-packed Saturday at the China Open in Beijing, where No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings Jannik Sinner headlines the order of play.

The Italian faces lucky loser Roman Safiullin in their third Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting. Sinner leads their series 2-0.

Other ATP stars to watch include third seed Daniil Medvedev, who takes on Adrian Mannarino. Rising Italian Flavio Cobolli plays Pavel Kotov.

ORDER OF PLAY - SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2024

CAPITAL GROUP DIAMOND start 11 a.m.
WTA - [3] Jasmine Paolini (ITA) vs Clara Tauson (DEN)
WTA - [1] Aryna Sabalenka vs [Q] Mananchaya Sawangkaew (THA)
ATP - [1] Jannik Sinner (ITA) vs [LL] Roman Safiullin