Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev Make a Strong Start at Shanghai Masters

In the Shanghai Masters’ first round on Saturday, top seeds Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev both won in straight sets to advance.

After a dramatic first set against American Marcos Giron that saw him save four set points, Italy’s Jannik Sinner also lost.

Gregoire Barrere, who is rated 73rd, was easily defeated by Alcaraz in the opening set, which he won 6-2.

However, in the second, the Frenchman gained footing and sent 20-year-old Alcaraz running around the court.

The second-ranked player in the world maintained composure and pulled ahead at the conclusion of the set to win it 7-5.

When questioned about the aspect of his performance that had most impressed him, Alcaraz said, “There were no ups and downs on my game.”

“I just maintained the same level throughout. Although (Barrere) raised the ante, my level of concentration remained constant.

After claiming to have “gone out of his mind” during his loss to Sinner at the China Open in Beijing this week, steady play may have been the Spaniard’s primary concern.

His strategy to overtake absent Novak Djokovic at the top of the rankings with good results in China was severely damaged by the defeat.

Alcaraz chuckled when asked whether he was more afraid of running against Sinner or Medvedev later on in the competition.

That’s a difficult one. They both,” he said.

It’s frightful to meet them… However, I like that type of a challenge, he said.

“I want to play at the top of my game to get to the final and likely face them.”

Cristian Garin of Chile was defeated by world number three and reigning champion Medvedev 6-3, 6-3 in straight sets to go easily to the third round.

The spectators gasped throughout numerous of Garin’s fiercely contested rallies, but finally the 98th-ranked player was unable to keep up with the Russian’s unrelenting tempo.

At the conclusion, Medvedev commented, “(There’s a) long tournament ahead, with a lot of strong players, starting from my next match.”

But winning this lovely prize once again is definitely the objective.

Medvedev won the competition in 2019, but the Covid-19 epidemic forced the tournament’s cancellation for the next three years.

I’m glad to be back in Shanghai, he said. “I genuinely feel fantastic, and I want to hang out here for as long as I can.”

A red-and-white butterfly that distracted Medvedev from serving during the indoor match highlighted how well-liked he is among Chinese supporters.

He pretended to be surprised for comedic effect while the audience laughed, and then he gently handed over the bug that had perched on one of his tennis balls to thunderous applause.

At a subsequent news conference, Medvedev said, “I’m a little bit, not scared of insects, but, like, I don’t like when they go on me,” adding that it was “perfect for me” after learning that they were a sign of good luck in China.

The Russian faces 26th-ranked Sebastian Korda again on Sunday after losing to him before.

It will be exciting for me since he played in a really powerful manner, according to Medvedev.