SHANGHAI — Jannik Sinner kicked off his title defense at the Shanghai Masters with a confident 6-3, 6-3 victory over Daniel Altmaier on Saturday, seeking retribution for his earlier defeat at the French Open two years prior.
This triumph marked Sinner’s sixth consecutive win, bolstered by his recent success at the China Open in Beijing, where he claimed the title just three days ago.
“I anticipated a tough match today,” Sinner reflected. “With limited time to adjust, this win feels even more rewarding.”
It had been some time since Sinner faced Altmaier, who bested him in a gripping five-set battle at Roland Garros in 2023, where Sinner let slip two match points.
In the third round, Sinner will go up against Tallon Griekspoor, holding a commanding 6-0 advantage in their previous encounters.
Sadly, the tournament lost its top seed, Carlos Alcaraz, who withdrew due to a left ankle injury.
“It’s a different atmosphere here,” Sinner noted about the shift from Beijing to Shanghai. “The humidity adds a layer of physicality. I aimed to rest, but it’s tough to balance practice right after a title win. Now, my top priority is to ensure I feel my best for the upcoming match.”
De Minaur and Auger-Aliassime Progress
Seventh seed Alex de Minaur cruised into the next round with a commanding 6-4, 6-2 victory against Camilo Ugo Carabelli, rebounding after his semifinal loss to Sinner in Beijing.
In other noteworthy matches, Daniil Medvedev overwhelmed qualifier Dalibor Svrcina with a 6-1, 6-1 scoreline; Yoshihito Nishioka pulled off an upset against 13th seed Andrey Rublev, winning 2-6, 6-1, 6-4; 12th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime defeated Alejandro Tabilo 6-3, 6-3; and Kamil Majchrzak triumphed over 29th-seeded Brandon Nakashima with a decisive 6-4, 6-0.
The top seeds enjoyed a smooth passage into the second round with first-round byes.
