Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz both secured victories to advance to the last 16 at the Shanghai Masters

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner was pushed to a three-set struggle by Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry in Shanghai, but the Italian eventually advanced to the round of 16 with a 6-7, 6-4, 6-2 victory. Sinner triumphed under the roof in China, while his fellow ATP Tour leader, Carlos Alcaraz, also secured another win.

Jannik Sinner maintained his flawless record against players outside the world’s top 20, taking it to 43-0 after overcoming Tomas Martin Etcheverry. However, he had to battle hard for his 6-7, 6-4, 6-2 win against the Argentinian in China.

Sinner had an ideal start, securing the first game on serve in just two minutes. Etcheverry answered promptly in the next game, gaining a 40-0 lead and finishing the game to set the stage for a competitive set against the world No. 1.

The pair contended fiercely in the first set, with neither managing to break serve. Sinner averted a break point in the seventh game by blasting an ace at deuce, followed by another to gain the upper hand and finish the game. He later earned a break point himself, only to see his opponent rally with a courageous point to reach deuce and secure two aces to hold serve.

Sinner soon found himself ahead 6-5 with a break point against Etcheverry near the set’s conclusion, but once more, the Argentinian held firm to maintain his serve. In the tiebreaker, Etcheverry seized the opportunity, clinching it 7-3 to capture the first set after an hour and two minutes of thrilling tennis beneath Shanghai’s roof.

The second set deviated from this pattern. Each player maintained their serve comfortably through the initial four games until Sinner finally achieved a break. He concluded an 18-shot rally to secure the break of serve, celebrating with a vigorous fist pump while locking eyes with his team in the stands.

However, this celebration was short-lived as a double fault let Etcheverry back into the subsequent game at 15-15. The 25-year-old reclaimed his serve, evening the set at 3-3 during a swift two-minute sixth game.

In the seventh game, an unfortunate double fault cost the Argentinian dearly, allowing Sinner to seize a 30-0 advantage, which he converted into his third consecutive break of the match. Sinner then held serve twice successfully, wrapping up the second set in 45 minutes and equalising the match as it moved to the deciding set.

Although the Italian had a chance to make a strong start in the final set, he missed three break points in the initial game. Etcheverry clawed back from a 40-0 deficit to maintain his serve, while Sinner held his own in the second game. Determined not to repeat his earlier mistake, Sinner capitalised on his sole break opportunity in the third game, taking a 2-1 lead in the set. A powerful 126mph ace secured the fourth game, extending Sinner’s lead to two games.

Etcheverry continued to battle, saving two break points in the fifth game to remain close to the world No. 1 at 3-2.

A pivotal sixth game lasting 15 minutes became the turning point of the match. Sinner managed to fend off three break points, eventually snatching the game from his Argentinian opponent to gain a significant 4-2 advantage. The Italian swiftly broke serve in the next game, edging closer to a hard-earned win.

Sinner concluded the match with flair, winning all five points consecutively in the final game to advance to the round of 16. “It got stressful because if I lose the game at 3-2, and he makes the break, then we are back even,” Sinner remarked. “Sometimes you must wait for your opportunities, which I did, while maintaining mental composure. That was the key today.”

Like Sinner, the world No. 2, Carlos Alcaraz, had to exert significant effort to secure his place in the round of 16 in Shanghai, eventually defeating China’s Yibing Wu with scores of 7-6, 6-3. In a thrilling opening set, neither player succeeded in breaking the other’s serve, with both fiercely defending under the closed roof. Alcaraz had high praise for his opponent following the match.

“He’s regaining his form,” Alcaraz commented. “Returning from an injury, his level certainly merits being at the top,” stated the Spaniard. “If he continues playing like this and perseveres, I expect to see him more frequently. I’m truly pleased to have advanced. The sensation on court was unfamiliar to me. Wu is exceptionally powerful and played with great strength. I felt as though I wasn’t controlling the game.”

The first break point opportunity didn’t occur until the eighth game when Alcaraz gained a 40-15 lead. However, Wu fought back valiantly, winning four consecutive points to maintain his serve and take a 5-4 advantage in the set.

The current holder of the Wimbledon and French Open titles easily maintained his serve in the subsequent game, while Wu unleashed three aces in the eleventh game, bringing him just one game away from clinching the set. Alcaraz held his serve and narrowly emerged victorious in a thrilling tiebreaker, taking it 7-5 to claim the first set.

Both players continued to hold their serves in the second set, yet the sixth game turned out to be pivotal as Alcaraz broke Wu’s serve for the very first time. With the momentum swinging in his favour, the Spaniard delivered three aces in the next game, surging ahead to a 5-2 lead.

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Faced with serving to stay in the match, Wu felt the pressure, committing a double fault on the second point, though he managed to regain composure to win the game and prolong the contest. Alcaraz, however, was impeccable on his serve, firing another ace and then forcing an error from Wu to seal the victory.

His success sets up a clash against either Gael Monfils or Ugo Humbert in the round of 16.

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