Three third-round picks from the Shanghai Masters today, and there's a potential upset right at the top of the list. Let's get into it.
Shanghai Masters Predictions
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs Frances Tiafoe
Head-to-head: Fokina 1-3 Tiafoe
Tiafoe leads this one comfortably on paper, but Fokina's single win came on hard courts and the Spaniard has been playing some genuinely unpredictable tennis lately, the kind that gives higher-ranked opponents real problems. Tiafoe hasn't had a smooth run of form recently either, and on a surface that rewards consistency over flash, Fokina's grinding baseline game can drag matches into uncomfortable territory for someone who relies on rhythm and momentum as much as Tiafoe does.
I think Fokina nicks this one in three. It won't be pretty, but the numbers don't tell the whole story here.
Prediction: Fokina in 3
Francisco Cerundolo vs Jakub Mensik
Head-to-head: Cerundolo 3-0 Mensik
Three from three for Cerundolo in this rivalry, which is a psychological weight Mensik has to carry into every point. That said, Mensik has developed fast this season and hard courts suit his game far better than the clay where most of those losses came. He's become so good at not panicking in big moments and at 19 he's clearly not intimidated by reputations.
Cerundolo won't roll over, but Mensik finally breaks the streak here.
Prediction: Mensik in 3
Alexander Bublik vs Brandon Nakashima
Head-to-head: First meeting
Bublik is always capable of beating anyone on a given day, but his results on hard courts have been maddeningly inconsistent and Nakashima has been one of the more quietly reliable performers on the tour this season. The American keeps the ball in play at a high level and doesn't give opponents many free points, which is exactly the kind of opponent Bublik struggles with when his serve isn't clicking. The conditions in Shanghai, which tend to slow things down a touch, should suit Nakashima in the longer rallies, all things considered.
Prediction: Nakashima in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © SIPA USA