2025 Rolex Masters ATP Shanghai begins main draw action on Wednesday. 2-time quarterfinalist David Goffin (2016, 2024) will start the proceedings on the main court against Alexandre Muller, who defeated him in their lone meeting in Madrid this season. Can the former World No. 7 produce a vintage performance in Shanghai, similar to how he rolled back the years in the previous edition? Who do you think will prevail? We have predictions for every day 1 match in Shanghai.
ATP Shanghai Day 1 Predictions
Jordan Thompson vs August Holmgren
Head-to-head: Holmgren 1-0
August Holmgren showed some incredible heroics at Wimbledon and even kept it up for a while longer on the Challenger circuit. But recent weeks have felt more like back to the mean for the Dane, especially as there seems to be little to his game but the aggressive serve +1 forehand play. He needs to have full trust in his weapons to produce it and even though Jordan Thompson hasn’t had a great year, his block returns and low-skidding slice could mess up Holmgren’s patterns.
Prediction: Thompson in 2
Sebastian Ofner vs Luca Nardi
Head-to-head: Ofner 2-0
Sebastian Ofner had some very strong performances right when he came back from an injury hiatus for the European clay swing, but the form of the Austrian has completely fallen apart since. He now finds himself on a 7-match losing streak and confidence has to be at an all-time low. But Luca Nardi is a winnable draw as the Italian has been struggling to hang around the ATP Tour in the long term. The lack of a standout trait could hurt him again if Ofner locks in with his power a bit more than he has of late.
Prediction: Ofner in 3
David Goffin vs Alexandre Muller
Head-to-head: Muller 1-0
Alexandre Muller posted a good win over Karen Khachanov in Beijing last week, but has overall been a little too up and down in the last couple of months, mostly producing a maximum of one victory per event. It’s tough to say where that puts him ahead of a clash with David Goffin. It’s clear that the Belgian is past his prime and hasn’t been at his strongest physically this year. But from time to time, he still delivers the goods. Muller’s counter-punching makes him the more likely winner right now, just about.
Prediction: Muller in 3
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
