Fifty-six of the world’s best will compete this in the Rolex Shanghai Masters, which released its entry list earlier this week. The high-profile event will take place for eight days from October 7-14.
Roger Federer is the defending champion after he defeated Rafael Nadal in the 2017 final and the Swiss star is tipped by UK betting sites to retain the trophy. Federer, who is seemingly ageless despite being in the twilight of his playing career, beat Nadal 6-4, 6-3 and dropped only one set in the entire tournament.
According to reports, the competition will be the only Asian tournament in which Federer will play this season. The world No. 2 will be in the United States in late September for the Laver Cup in Chicago. Three-time champion Novak Djokovic, who won it in 2012, 2013, and 2015, and 2013 runner-up Juan Martin Del Potro are also committed.
Frances Tiafoe is the last direct entry into the main draw, while Alex de Minaur is the first alternate. In an exclusive interview with the Tennis World USA last week, tournament director Michael Leuvano talked about the wild-card options.
“Stan Wawrinka does not have a protected ranking so will require a wild card”, Leuvano said. “He probably is at the top of our list for a singles main draw. I am speaking to [Andy Murray]’s management now and asking them if Andy could use his PR to get into Shanghai. So I think that’s how it’s going to play out. The other wild cards we have all go to the Chinese national players. In a perfect world, Stan would probably get a wild card…and Andy would have his PR. So we would have them both in the main draw.”
In the end, though, Murray didn’t use his protected ranking and therefore needs a wild card just like Stan Wawrinka.
Meanwhile, Federer is currently at the U.S. Open and attempting to win it for the first time since 2008. Federer, who has not lost a set through two rounds, is 5-2 lifetime in U.S. Open finals. In the event he lifts the trophy, it would be his sixth U.S. Open title in 14 appearances and he would be the oldest champion at 37.
winner: definitely not Rafa
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I read somewhere that Andy Murray is planning to play just Shenzhen and Beijing and then go back to training/rehab until the end of the year. Seems a bit odd to me, but what do I know?
Maybe Murray wants some match play and then wants to continue to train to get his strength and fitness back in preparation for 2019.
I think it’s going to be a slow process with him.
That’s what he says. Maybe it’s about the money, too. He’s probably getting hefty appearance fees for Shenzhen and Beijing.
Ramara,
Good point about the appearance fees.
i’d say that’s a safe bet!!!! (it’s already been about 16 months of nothing!)