Shanghai Rolex Masters Draw 2024 – Perfect Tennis

The Asian swing is well underway, and the Rolex Shanghai Masters caps things off as the penultimate Masters 1000 tournament of the season.

The 2024 draw features all the big names, with Sinner, Zverev, Alcaraz, Djokovic, and Medvedev all set to compete at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena.

Sinner heads in as the top seed and has a tricky path to the final. He is also contending with his doping scandal, which is now back in the spotlight after WADA decided to appeal the ITIA’s decision.

Djokovic hasn’t played in Shanghai since 2019 after missing last year’s tournament after it returned from a three-year hiatus from the ATP calendar.

How will he perform? The Serb has four Shanghai titles, so he boasts an enviable record in China. However, he hasn’t played since New York, and I’m not sure what sort of prep work he’s been doing back in Serbia or Marbella. 

You can see the full draw below.

Tournament Info

Shanghai Rolex Masters Seeds 2024

Seeds:

1. Jannik Sinner
2. Alexander Zverev
3. Carlos Alcaraz
4. Novak Djokovic
5. Daniil Medvedev
6. Andrey Rublev
7. Taylor Fritz
8. Casper Ruud
9. Grigor Dimitrov
10. Stefanos Tsitsipas
11. Tommy Paul
12. Holger Rune
13. Frances Tiafoe
14. Ben Shelton
15. Lorenzo Musetti
16. Ugo Humbert
17. Félix Auger-Aliassime
18. Alejandro Tabilo
19. Alexei Popyrin
20. Arthur Fils
21. Sebastián Báez
22. Alexander Bublik
23. Karen Khachanov
24. Nicolás Jarry
25. Jordan Thompson
26. Francisco Cerúndolo
27. Flavio Cobolli
28. Matteo Arnaldi
29. Tomáš Macháč
30. Tomás Martín Etcheverry
31. Brandon Nakashima
32. Jiří Lehečka

Wildcards:

Special Exempt:

Withdrawals:

Qualifiers

Lucky Losers

2024 Shanghai Masters Draw

Bottom Half

PDF Singles Draw

PDF Doubles Draw

Thoughts on the Draw

Top Half: Sinner, Alcaraz and Medvedev headline, with Tsitsipas, Paul and Ruud also in the mix

Seeded players:Jannik Sinner (1), Carlos Alcaraz (3), Daniil Medvedev (5), Casper Ruud (8), Stefanos Tsitsipas (10), Tommy Paul (11), Ben Shelton (14), Ugo Humbert (16), Félix Auger-Aliassime (18), Arthur Fils (21), Sebastián Báez (22), Nicolás Jarry (25), Matteo Arnaldi (29), Tomáš Macháč (30), Tomás Martín Etcheverry (31)

The top half is the loaded section, and Jannik Sinner is the top seed. After receiving a first-round bye, he’ll face either Taro Daniel or Egor Gerasimov.

Sinner is enjoying a career-best year in 2024, boasting six titles, including two Grand Slam wins at the Australian Open and US Open. But he is facing fresh scrutiny after WADA decided to appeal the decision regarding his two positive doping tests earlier this year. Will it affect his play? So far in Beijing, he’s not been at his best, but he’s in the semi-final.

Looking further ahead, Sinner could face the dangerous Argentine Tomás Martín Etcheverry in the third round. If he advances, a fourth-round matchup against rising American star Ben Shelton (14th seed) looms.

Sinner is expected to prevail in these encounters and reach the quarterfinals, where a potential clash against either fifth seed Daniil Medvedev awaits. Sinner has gained the upper hands vs the Russian having previously struggled.

On the other side of this half, third seed Carlos Alcaraz is the 3rd seed. The Spaniard has had a stellar 2024 season, capturing two Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. I was worried his form would suffer after the Olympics, but it looks like the Laver Cup helped him refind his mojo.

Like Sinner, Alcaraz begins his campaign in the second round, facing Shang Juncheng or wildcard Coleman Wong. A third-round encounter with the hard-hitting Nicolás Jarry could follow before a potential fourth-round matchup against veteran Marin Cilic or 16th-seed Ugo Humbert.

If the draw unfolds as expected, Alcaraz could meet Casper Ruud or Tommy Paul in the quarterfinals. Ruud isn’t in the best of form at the moment, and Paul lost early to Machac in Tokyo so I don’t see Alcaraz facing too many problems, perhaps someone with a big serve can do some damage if the surface is playing quickly as we’ve seen Isner, Anderson and Hurkacz all enjoy success. Opelka?

Bottom Half: Djokovic makes first appearance in Shanghai since 2019

Seeded players: Alexander Zverev (2), Novak Djokovic (4), Andrey Rublev (6), Taylor Fritz (7), Grigor Dimitrov (9), Frances Tiafoe (13), Holger Rune (12), Lorenzo Musetti (15), Alexei Popyrin (20), Alexander Bublik (23), Karen Khachanov (24), Jordan Thompson (26), Francisco Cerundolo (27), Flavio Cobolli (28), Brandon Nakashima (32), Jiří Lehečka (33).

This half of the draw is headlined by 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, who begins his quest for a record fifth Shanghai Masters title with a second-round match against Alex Michelsen or special exempt Bu Yunchaokete, thanks to a first-round bye.

Djokovic has won 34 matches in Shanghai and boasts an 87% win record, but his form is somewhat unknown, as he has not played since his US Open loss. Cobolli could be his first test in the third round.

A potential fourth-round clash against 13th seed Frances Tiafoe could also be interesting, but his game style typically frustrates Big Fo. That’s assuming the American defeats Yoshihito Nishioka and 23rd seed Alexander Bublik, which aren’t given.

Djokovic could face either ninth seed Grigor Dimitrov or sixth seed Andrey Rublev in the quarters. Both players are capable of causing problems, but Dimitrov has been dealing with some physical and last year’s beaten finalist, Rublev, is typically inconsistent.

On the other side of this half of the draw is second seed Alexander Zverev, who’s had a consistent season but has yet to land that elusive Grand Slam title.

The German withdrew from the China Open last week due to pneumonia, but he is expected to be fully fit for his campaign in Shanghai.

After a first-round bye, Zverev will begin his tournament against Mattia Bellucci or Billy Harris. He could face Jordan Thompson or the big-serving Tallon Griekspoor in the third round. Should he progress to the fourth round, 15th seed Lorenzo Musetti may await.

However, Zverev’s big test would be in the quarterfinals, where he could face seventh seed Taylor Fritz. The two have met four times this season, with Zverev managing only one win at the Rome Masters.

First-Round Matches To Watch