De Minaur channels recent loss into Shanghai surge
Seventh-seeded Alex De Minaur shakes off another defeat to Jannik Sinner, advancing efficiently in the Shanghai Masters, while upsets ripple through the draw and top absences reshape the path ahead.
Under the humid glow of Shanghai’s evening sessions, seventh-seeded Alex De Minaur carved out a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Camilo Ugo to reach the third round, his quicksilver movement turning the hardcourt into an extension of his resolve. The Australian, still carrying the sting from a semifinal loss to Jannik Sinner in Beijing—his 11th straight defeat against the Italian—wasted little time resetting, deploying crosscourt forehands to stretch Ugo wide before slipping inside-out backhands for decisive points. This straight-sets dispatch felt like a tactical exhale, De Minaur’s baseline tenacity blending with the surface’s crisp pace to build momentum in a tournament that demands rapid adaptation.
Overcoming Sinner‘s persistent edge
De Minaur’s performance echoed the mental pivot needed after repeated clashes with Sinner, who later that Saturday faced Daniel Altmaier in the second round following his China Open triumph in Beijing. The Australian’s speed neutralized Ugo’s attempts at aggressive net play, forcing errors through prolonged one–two punch exchanges that highlighted his improved depth control on these outdoor courts. As the crowd’s energy swelled with each hold, it underscored how De Minaur is weaving resilience into his game, positioning himself to chase deeper results amid the Asian swing’s unrelenting schedule.
Nishioka disrupts Rublev’s power play
While De Minaur steadied his course, Yoshihito Nishioka pulled off a 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 upset against 13th-seeded Andrey Rublev, his underspin slices slicing through the Russian’s heavy groundstrokes to flip the match’s momentum. Rublev dominated early with down-the-line winners, but Nishioka’s tactical retreats and varied returns exposed gaps in depth, drawing unforced errors as frustration mounted in the decider. This reversal, played out under the tournament’s building humidity, spotlights the psychological undercurrents where underdogs like Nishioka thrive by disrupting rhythm on a surface that rewards patience over raw power.
Advances and voids reshape the draw
In parallel action, 12th-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime dispatched Alejandro Tabilo 6-3, 6-3, his serve-volley combinations pinning the Chilean in rallies that suited the Canadian’s flat-hitting precision. Qualifier Kamil Majchrzak then stunned 29th-seeded Brandon Nakashima 6-4, 6-0, using steady topspin to exploit the American’s hesitant returns and build an insurmountable lead. With top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz sidelined by minor ailments after his Japan Open victory, and the top players enjoying first-round byes, these outcomes inject volatility into Shanghai’s bracket, opening lanes for seeds like De Minaur to navigate toward the weekend’s high-stakes encounters where endurance and adjustment will separate contenders from the pack.