Shanghai serves up another sizzling day of matches on Monday, with American Learner Tien taking on Norway’s Casper Ruud and a struggling Rafael Jodar of Spain facing off against Czechia’s Jiri Lehecka.
(14) Learner Tien vs. (20) Casper Ruud
Learner Tien has a habit of coming alive in China. A year ago he reached his first tour-level final in Beijing, and he is looking sharp again at the Rolex Shanghai Masters with a 7-5, 7-5 win over Zachary Svajda. It was a solid hard-court summer for the 20-year-old, with a semifinal showing in Montreal and a fourth-round run at the U.S. Open.
Casper Ruud also looked good in his opener. He dropped just one game in the first set against wild card Bu Yunchaokete before closing it out in a tiebreak. The Norwegian hasn’t had a good fall, though, and Shanghai also hasn’t been historically kind to him; he retired hurt in his opener here last year. Ruud is at his most dangerous when he can sit back, take his time, and have time for his forehand. Tien is the kind of opponent who makes that difficult. Look for Tien to grind his way into the round of 16.
Cheryl pick: Tien in 3
Ricky pick: Tien in 2
(12) Rafael Jodar vs. (22) Jiri Lehecka
Rafael Jodar won his only previous meeting with opponent Jiri Lehecka, and it wasn’t close. He beat Lehecka 6-3, 6-3 in the fourth round of the Montreal Masters in August, winning 24 of 28 first-serve points and attacking the Czech’s backhand until it broke down. The problem for Jodar is that he has gone completely off the boil. Bu thrashed him in the first round of the U.S. Open, and his Asian swing debut in Tokyo ended with a 6-1, 6-3 loss to Adolfo Daniel Vallejo following a long trip from the Laver Cup. The 19-year-old had to come from a set down to get past Thiago Agustin Tirante on Saturday, as well.
Lehecka comes in with a lot more momentum. He reached the Tokyo final last week — when Carlos Alcaraz defended his title against him — and then held off Nuno Borges in three sets in his Shanghai opener. When Lehecka’s serve is landing, he can shorten points and keep Jodar from settling into the long baseline rallies that won him the Montreal match. Jodar still has plenty to play for with Turin in the picture, and I expect him to make this a fight. Lehecka’s form and freshness should give him the edge in a tight three-setter.
Cheryl pick: Lehecka in 3
Ricky pick: Lehecka in 2
Tien and Lehecka in three
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