A few second-round picks from the Shanghai Masters today, and there's plenty to get into. Who do you think makes it through?
Shanghai Masters Predictions
Novak Djokovic vs Hubert Hurkacz
Head-to-head: Djokovic 8-0 Hurkacz
Eight from eight. That's the kind of H2H record that just doesn't happen in professional tennis, and yet here we are. Djokovic has never lost to Hurkacz, on any surface, in any situation, and the last time they met Novak won in straights at the French Open in 2023. Hurkacz is a genuinely dangerous player on hard courts and has had some big results in Shanghai before, but something about this matchup just doesn't work for him.
Djokovic hasn't been in the most consistent form since his knee surgery, but this is still Djokovic and facing an opponent he's never dropped a set to is about as comfortable a draw as he could ask for. Expect a tight one given where Novak's level is right now, but he should still find a way to get through here.
Prediction: Djokovic in 3
Juan Manuel Cerundolo vs Carlos Alcaraz
Head-to-head: Alcaraz leads 1-0
Cerundolo is a solid clay-court player who can trouble almost anyone on the right surface, but Shanghai's hard courts are a different conversation entirely. Alcaraz is one of the best hard-court players in the world right now and should be close to full sharpness after a strong summer hardcourt swing.
Hard to see this being competitive at all.
Prediction: Alcaraz in 2
Matteo Berrettini vs Brandon Nakashima
Head-to-head: Berrettini leads 1-0
This one's actually interesting. Berrettini has been working his way back to form and his serve is always a threat on hard courts, but Nakashima has quietly become one of the more consistent players on tour this year and his ranking reflects that. The H2H doesn't tell us much since they've only met once, which was early in both their careers.
I feel like Nakashima's steadiness from the baseline wins out over three sets here. That said, Berrettini can raise his level in bursts but he hasn't been able to sustain it for full matches yet, and Nakashima is patient enough to make him pay for that.
Prediction: Nakashima in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
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