Carlos Alcaraz Advances to Fourth Round at Rolex Shanghai Masters

Carlos Alcaraz, the World No. 2, continued his impressive form by defeating China’s Wu Yibing in the third round of the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Sunday. Alcaraz secured a straight-set victory of 7-6(5), 6-3 against the wild card entrant, marking his 50th tour-level win this year. The match showcased Alcaraz’s resilience and skill, especially as he managed to come through a testing tie-break to take the first set.

Alcaraz, who recently clinched his fourth title of the season, has been maintaining his unbeaten streak since a second-round exit at an earlier tournament. “He is recovering his level. He’s coming back from injury, but his level deserves to be at the top for sure,” Alcaraz commented on Wu Yibing, acknowledging the rising capabilities of his opponent.

The Spaniard mentioned that it was his first time playing against Wu, noting, “I don’t want to say I was surprised, but it was the first time I was playing against him. He just beat [Nicolas] Jarry really easily, 6-2, 6-2, so that’s impressive.” Alcaraz stressed the need to focus and deliver his best tennis to secure his win.

Chinese men’s tennis has been on an upswing during the Asian swing, but Alcaraz thwarted local hopes by advancing to the next round. Wu Yibing had a promising start leading the tie-break at 3/1, but Alcaraz managed to turn the tables and clinch the opening set. Wu, who became China’s first ATP Tour champion in Dallas in 2023, continued to challenge Alcaraz, especially in the second set before conceding a crucial break.

“I’m just feeling great, really happy to have a day off to recover,” Alcaraz remarked post-match, highlighting the importance of rest amidst the demanding tour schedule. He is set to compete against either Gael Monfils or Ugo Humbert in the fourth round.

Meanwhile, the tournament has sparked discussions about the taxing nature of the tennis schedule. Jannik Sinner, another prominent player in Shanghai, has been vocal about the need for recovery time, emphasizing the stresses on players. Alcaraz, however, attributes differences in fatigue to playing styles and personal endurance.

With the Rolex Shanghai Masters in full swing, fans are eager to see if Alcaraz and Sinner will face off once again, potentially in the finals just a week after their last encounter.