Dethroned in Beijing, Jannik Sinner returns to action in the Shanghai Masters, keen to bounce back from losing to Carlos Alcaraz when he takes on Taro Daniel in Saturday's second-round match.
The three-time Masters 1000 champion is seeking his third of 2024 — to add to victories in Miami and Cincinnati — and fourth overall.
Match preview
© Imago
Sinner overcame Alcaraz in the semi-final en route to notching last year's China Open but could not retain the title this time, falling in three thrilling sets to the Spaniard.
That 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-7 loss to his friend and rival ended a 6-0 streak of victories in title matches in 2024 and extended his losing run against the 21-year-old sensation to three.
Fresh off that Beijing defeat, the world No. 1 returns to action in Shanghai, keen to continue an outstanding season in which he claimed Majors Down Under in Australia and recently at the US Open, with the latter following a second 1000 success in Cincinnati.
With both Grand Slams this season coming on hard courts and all three Masters 1000 victories on the same surface, the Italian will back himself for a deep run in Shanghai.
Despite losing his 15-match winning streak in Beijing, the ATP Tour's best performer in 2024 seeks to shake off that recent disappointment as he aims to better last season's fourth-round run.
Daniel may face the wrath of a player looking to prove a point after his latest Alcaraz disappointment, even if the Japanese will hope tiredness plays a part in Sinner's performance.
A swift Beijing-Shanghai turnaround could lead to a slow start for the Italian and the 31-year-old one-time Tour-level champion hopes to capitalise on any hangover from the favourite.
Daniel's Masters 1000 record in 2024 had seen him notch just two victories before Wednesday's first-round 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 triumph against Egor Gerasimov, but he faces a daunting task to make it to round three of an ATP 1000 event for the first time since Indian Wells and in Miami last year, defeating Roberto Carballes Baena and Matteo Berrettini in the former and beating Alexander Zverev in Florida.
Those victories highlight the Japanese player's competence at this level, and he will need every bit of his expertise to stun the heavy favourite and world No. 1.
Tournament so far
Jannik Sinner:
First round: Bye
Taro Daniel:
First round: vs. Egor Gerasimov 6-7[5] 6-3 6-4
Head To Head
Australian Open (2022) - Third round: Sinner 6-4 1-6 6-3 6-1
Sinner's previous match-up with Daniel was a third-round clash at the 2022 Australian Open which the Italian took in four.
Much has changed in the two years since that four-set battle, with the Italian now the Tour's leading player and possibly the strongest player on the hard court.
The 23-year-old's 59-6 win-loss record in 2024 bettering Daniel's 10-22 underscores the gulf in quality between both players.
We say: Sinner to win in two sets
Despite any potential fatigue from his recent tournament in Beijing and Daniel's experience of stunning higher-ranked players, Sinner is expected to comfortably defeat his Japanese opponent and extend his winning streak against him to 2-0.
