The ATP Shanghai Masters is the biggest tournament in the Asian swing on the men’s side. 16 first-round matches are scheduled on the first day and this article features four exciting matches that can produce some great tennis. As always, we here at LWOT will offer our predictions for every match on the slate for day 1. But which players will advance?
ATP Shanghai Day 1 Predictions
Luca Nardi vs Alexandre Muller
Head-to-Head: Nardi 1-1 Muller
Luca Nardi had a great start to the year but hasn’t been able to find any rhythm since March. He has either failed to qualify or lost in the first round of tour-level tournaments in the last few months. Alexandre Muller isn’t doing great either but has 14 match wins this season at the tour level, which is the most he’s ever had. Muller’s slightly better form and better serve should help him win this one.
Prediction: Muller in 3
Fabio Fognini vs Luciano Darderi
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Fabio Fognini has shown some glimpses of his old tennis here and there this year but they have come on clay or grass. The Italian has won just one hard-court main draw match this year which came at Indian Wells in March. However, he is a former quarterfinalist at the Shanghai Masters and has a good opening-round match on paper. Luciano Darderi is on a five-match losing streak and is yet to find any form on this surface. Darderi has just one main draw win on hard courts in his career and Fognini should take advantage.
Prediction: Fognini in 3
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs Gabriel Diallo
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina started the North American hard court swing pretty well, but three early losses in the last three tournaments have made him slip the rankings. The Spaniard was inside the top 30 at this time last year and will need a good run of form to get back inside the top 50. Gabriel Diallo’s run to the third round at the US Open showed his potential and he didn’t drop a set here in qualifying. This is going to be tough for Davidovich Fokina but I am backing him to find a way.
Prediction: Davidovich Fokina in 3
Denis Shapovalov vs Lorenzo Sonego
Head-to-Head: Shapovalov 1-1 Sonego
Denis Shapovalov displayed some great tennis at the Davis Cup recently and will hope to show that in this tournament. However, his record is terrible here with just one match win from three main draw appearances. Playing two qualifying matches should help him as he takes on another player who is better than his current ranking. It seemed like Sonego was out of his slump after a fantastic run to the title in Winston-Salem but lost three matches in a row since.
These two played two very close matches against each other in 2022 but neither are at that level currently. The quick conditions should suit both players though and whoever can be more solid should win. With Shapovalov already used to the courts, I am leaning towards him.
Prediction: Shapovalov in 3
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
