Daily Tennis Tips – Wednesday October 9

Young guns Jannik Sinner and Ben Shelton square off in the Round of 16 at the Shanghai Masters for the second year in a row.

Shelton upset Sinner 2-6 6-3 7-6 at this tournament last year, the tyros’ initial meeting, but Sinner has beaten Shelton three times since – at the late-2023 Vienna Open and at Indian Wells and Wimbledon this year, all in straight sets.

Sinner, of course, has hit the stratosphere since his last visit to Shanghai, winning the Australian Open and US Open, and snaring the world No.1 ranking.

In his first outing since triumphing in New York, he reached last week’s China Open final – a gripping three-set loss to Carlos Alcaraz.

This week he’s navigated past Taro Daniel (6-1 6-4) and Tomas Martin Etcheverry (6-7 6-4 6-2).

Shelton, the 16th seed, has progressed comfortably at the expense of Denis Shapovalov (6-3 7-5) and Roberto Carballes Baena (6-3 6-4).

The 21-year-old went down to Arthur Fils in the Japan Open quarter-finals last week, while he lost a five-setter to Frances Tiafoe in the third round of the US Open after reaching the semis in 2023.

He is searching for a third ATP 1000 quarter-final, following last year’s Shanghai tilt and Cincinnati this year.

Sinner has made at least the quarter-finals of all six Masters events he has entered this year – winning in Miami and Cincinnati – and should maintain his perfect 2024 record against Shelton.

Keen rivals Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daniil Medvedev lock horns for the 14th time in the Shanghai Masters’ Round of 16.

Medvedev has built a 9-4 lead in this rivalry, including wins in their last two clashes – at the Rome Masters and Vienna Open in 2023 – after Tsitsipas won four of the previous six.

The 2019 champion in Shanghai, world No.5 Medvedev has defeated Thiago Seyboth Wild (7-5 7-5) and Matteo Arnaldi (5-7 6-4 6-4) so far.

He made the US Open quarters and China Open semis, losing to fellow big guns Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, respectively.

Not for the first time this season, Tsitsipas has found himself in a form funk – including first-round losses to Thanasi Kokkinakis at the US Open and Alex Michelsen at the recent Japan Open.

But he’s looked solid so far in Shanghai, disposing of Kei Nishikori (7-6 6-4) and Alexandre Muller (6-3 7-5).

Tsitsipas will need to find another gear to topple Medvedev, however, with the Russian serving strongly.

Wuhan Open second seed Jessica Pegula meets world No.38 Anastasia Potapova in the second round. Pegula had a first-round bye, while Potapova outlasted Katie Volynets 5-7 6-3 7-5.

Pegula is 4-0 against Potapova, most recently beating her at both Sunshine Double events in 2023 – but both encounters went to three sets with game totals of 31-plus.

In career-best form, Pegula has surged to No.3 in the world after winning the Canadian Masters, and reaching the finals of the Cincinnati Masters and US Open (losing to Aryna Sabalenka in both).

The 30-year-old went down to in-form Paula Badosa in the China Open’s Round of 16 last week.

Potapova’s recent formline is a mixed bag, following up disappointing early exits with a semi-final run at the Tennis in the Land and beating Leylah Fernandez on her way to the US Open’s third round.

However she lost first up at the China Open to Greet Mineen.

A two-time WTA title winner who broke into the top 25 in 2023, Potapova boasts six top-10 victories in her career – but none in more than 12 months.

The ultra-consistent Pegula hasn’t lost a hard-court match to a player outside the top 20 in some time and is likely to progress with relative ease here.

World No.7 Taylor Fritz has enjoyed a landmark season and is searching for a Shanghai Masters quarter-final berth at the expense of somewhat inconsistent – but upward trending – world No.14 Holger Rune.

The pair have split their two matches to date, both at ATP 1000 level with Fritz prevailing 6-3 6-4 at the 2023 Miami Masters and Rune squared up the ledger with a 2-6 7-6 6-3 victory at this year’s Indian Wells Masters.

Fritz reached his maiden Grand Slam final at the US Open in brilliant style, before going down to Carlos Alcaraz and beating Alexander Zverev at the Laver Cup.

He was subsequently rolled first up at the Japan Open by Arthur Fils.

But the big-serving American is back in the groove in Shanghai, defeating Terence Atmane (7-6 7-6) and Yosuke Watanuki (6-3 6-4).

Rune’s mixed season has more recently featured a Cincinnati Masters semi-final run, followed by first-round exits at the US Open and Hangzhou Open.

He was also upset by Fils at the Japan Open, albeit in the semi-finals after stringing together a few solid wins.

The 21-year-old Dane has beaten a couple of quality opponents in Shanghai so far in Matteo Berrettini (4-6 6-4 6-3) and Jiri Lehecka (6-4 7-5).

Both players have one ATP 1000 Masters title to their credit – Fritz the 2022 Indian Wells Masters and Rune the 2022 Paris Masters.

With Fritz a $1.48 favourite, Rune is a value option here as he aims to channel his Indian Wells fightback.