Matching Report
Alcaraz spoils the Chinese team, defeating Wu in Shanghai
The Spaniard will face either Monfils or Humbert in the fourth round
October 06, 2024
Zhe Ji/Getty Images
Carlos Alcaraz playing Wu Yibing on Sunday at the Rolex Shanghai Masters.
By ATP staff
Carlos Alcaraz had to fight hard on Sunday as he made it 11 wins in a row to advance to the fourth round of the Rolex Shanghai Masters.
World No. 2 showed glimpses of his most impressive tennis as he cruised to a 7-6(5), 6-3 win over wild card Wu Yibing, his 50th win of the year. After winning her fourth title of the season at the China Open earlier this week, Alcaraz is undefeated since a second-round exit at the US Open.
“He is regaining his quality. He is coming back from injury, but his level definitely deserves to be high,” said Alcaraz about Wu. “If he continues to play at this level, I’m sure I’ll see him again and again. I’m really happy to go through.
“I don’t want to say that I was surprised, but I was playing with him for the first time. He just hit [Nicolas] Jarry easily, 6-2, 6-2, so that’s amazing. I had to focus on playing my best. I’m not used to feeling the emotions I had in court. He’s a really strong player, he plays with energy, so I felt like I wasn’t serving him in the game.”
You have done it 🔥@carlosalcaraz knocks out Yibing Wu 7-6 6-3 to advance to Shanghai!@SH_RolexMasters | #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/S3Old8385b
– ATP Tour (@atptour) October 6, 2024
China’s men’s tennis has made an impressive rise during the Asian Games, but Alcaraz looks set to spoil the team after defeating #NextGenATP star Shang Juncheng in his opening match in Shanghai.
Leading 3/1 in the tie-break, Wu appeared to be in a strong position to take the opening set but Alcaraz held on to take the lead. The Spaniard, who found himself in a similar situation on Wednesday in the decider of the final in Beijing against Jannik Sinner, was able to reproduce a thrilling comeback.
In major parts of the opening set, Wu ignited the tennis that helped him become China’s first ATP Tour champion in Dallas in 2023. Although he lost the break, he continued to push Alcaraz in the second set.
The 24-year-old dug deep and made Alcaraz work on his service games but a slight lapse in concentration in the sixth game gave the Spaniard the decisive break. From there, Alcaraz kept his foot on the gas and crossed the line with conviction, finishing with 23 winners in his victory, according to Infosys ATP Stats.
Alcaraz will face either Gael Monfils or Tokyo finalist Ugo Humbert in the last eight in Shanghai.
