A few first-round picks from Shanghai today as the Masters 1000 gets underway on hard courts. We've got a couple of tight ones and a match that should be fairly straightforward, so let's get into it.
Shanghai Masters Predictions
Botic Van De Zandschulp vs Daniel Merida Aguilar
Head-to-head: First meeting
Two players ranked within three spots of each other and meeting for the first time, so this one's genuinely hard to call. Van De Zandschulp has had a decent year but he's been inconsistent, and the Dutch lefty can look brilliant one week and flat the next. Aguilar is a young Spaniard who's been climbing steadily and brings real energy to matches on hard courts.
I think this goes the distance, and Aguilar's momentum in 2024 gives him a slight edge in a tight one.
Prediction: Aguilar in 3
Hubert Hurkacz vs James Duckworth
Head-to-head: Hurkacz 2-0 Duckworth
Hurkacz has won both previous meetings and Duckworth hasn't come close in either of them. Hubi's serve on fast hard courts is one of the most difficult things to deal with on tour and Shanghai's conditions should let him dictate pretty much every service game. Hard to see Duckworth troubling him here at all, and this isn't the kind of match that goes three sets.
Prediction: Hurkacz in 2
Vit Kopriva vs Zizou Bergs
Head-to-head: First meeting
Bergs is the higher-ranked player here and has been quietly putting together a solid season, but Kopriva is no pushover and has had some good results on hard courts this year. The gap between them isn't massive, and Kopriva's game can cause problems for players who don't deal well with variety. That said, Bergs has shown real consistency, particularly in best-of-three formats where his level tends to hold up, and his game suits this surface well.
Feels like Bergs gets through, should have enough on this surface all things considered.
Prediction: Bergs in 3
For full predictions on ATP and WTA matches today, check out Uppset.
Credit Image: © Scott Stuart/ZUMA Press Wire