There were no major casualties on day three at the Shanghai Masters with the headline act Roger Federer safely reaching the third round, although three-time former-champion Andy Murray did fall to Fabio Fognini in a bad-tempered affair. Day four should feature plenty of excitement, with a line-up featuring no shortage of star power. But who will book their place in the last 16 at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena?
Shanghai Masters Day 4 Predictions
Cristian Garin vs Matteo Berrettini
Head-to-head: Garin 1-0 Berrettini
Two of the ATP’s breakout stars will be squaring off in the second round of the Shanghai Masters when Cristian Garin and Matteo Berrettini meet. Both men have captured two ATP titles already this season and there could be more accolades for these two players as the Asian swing comes to its conclusion this week. US Open semifinalist Berrettini continued his quest for one of three remaining spots at the ATP Finals with a dominant victory over Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff in the opening round. It was his 36th win of the season and he now trails eighth-placed Alexander Zverev by just 25 points in the Race to London.
Garin, meanwhile, may not have had quite as much as success this year as Berrettini, but he is currently sitting at a career-high ranking of world #32 and looks certain to be in with a shout of winning the ATP’s Most Improved Player at the end of the season. However, clay very much remains the Chilean’s forte with his results on hard courts distinctively less impressive, despite a recent quarterfinal-showing in Chengdu. Expect the power of Berrettini to prove decisive in this one.
Prediction: Berrettini in 2
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Taylor Fritz vs Karen Khachanov
Head-to-head: first meeting
Taylor Fritz earned a much-needed first round victory over Fernando Verdasco to snap his dismal run of five first-round exits in a row. The young American’s last tour-level match win before his victory over Verdasco had come over two months ago when he beat Radu Albot to reach the final in Los Cabos. But that poor run of form should not detract from Fritz’s impressive season. The American cracked the top 30 for the first time this year and won a maiden ATP title in Eastbourne, as well as recording back-to-back runner-up finishes in Atlanta and Los Cabos.
Karen Khachanov, in contrast, has struggled mightily this year and is still chasing a first ATP title. His top ten ranking endures only due to the points he earned during his stunning run to the crown in Bercy at the tail end of last season. That said, he did play himself into some form in Beijing, reaching the semifinals, where he gave eventual champion Dominic Thiem a good match before losing in three. Nonetheless, Fritz will surely view this as a winnable match and rightly so.
Prediction: Fritz in 3
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Alexander Zverev vs Jeremy Chardy
Head-to-head: Zverev 3-1 Chardy
Jeremy Chardy has been on the receiving end of three successive defeats to Zverev since beating the then-teenaged German in Kuala Lumpur in 2015. Zverev who is seeded fifth this week, has had a disappointing season by his standards and he will surely be eager to find some late season form as he battles for a place at the ATP Finals in November, where he is defending champion. Chardy secured a fine win over Kyle Edmund in the first round – a player ranked almost 30 spots above him in the rankings, albeit in poor form. But the 32-year-old Frenchman’s game retains real weaknesses, most notably his second serve and backhand. Weaknesses that Zverev has exploited profitably in the past and will doubtless target once again.
Prediction: Zverev in 2
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Novak Djokovic vs Denis Shapovalov
Head-to-head: Djokovic 2-0 Shapovalov
World #1 and four-time Shanghai Masters champion Novak Djokovic will begin his quest for a 77th career title against Canadian Denis Shapovalov. The Serbian superstar has won the title in Shanghai more times than any other player and he will be the man to beat yet again this year after dismissing any lingering doubts about the shoulder injury he carried during the US Open by sweeping to the title in Tokyo without relinquishing a set.
Shapovalov, whose 2019 season started on a high note when he reached the quarterfinals in Rotterdam and semifinals in Miami, peaking at a career-high ranking of 20th in the world, lost his footing midway through the season. But he has rediscovered some form and thrashed Frances Tiafoe of the USA in the first round, 6-4 6-2. However, he will likely find Djokovic a rather tougher nut to crack. The Serbian should be fully refreshed from his exploits at the Japan Open and will likely have little to fear from Shapovalov.
Prediction: Djokovic in 2
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