Tennis

Matteo Berrettini, the former Wimbledon finalist, is determined to secure a seeding at the upcoming Australian Open in January. A strong performance at the Shanghai Masters 1000 tournament could significantly boost his chances.Berrettini made a successful return to the Shanghai tournament on Thursday, defeating Christopher O'Connell in a hard-fought two-hour and 13-minute battle. The Italian saved two set points in the opening tiebreak and broke back in the second set to avoid a decider.Despite withdrawing from his second-round match in Tokyo last week due to an abdominal issue, Berrettini is confident in his recovery. He has overcome numerous injuries in the past, including a challenging 2023 season."When you're not able to do your job and what you like to do, then it's always a struggle," Berrettini said. "So I'm really appreciating every moment that I have to spend on court, to perform and give my best."Berrettini draws inspiration from his fellow countrymen, including world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Wimbledon semifinalist Lorenzo Musetti. Seven Italians are currently ranked inside the Top 50, providing a source of motivation for Berrettini."I look for their results to get the energy to come back," he said. "I'm always supporting them in the last year in Davis Cup to get the energy to come back."In the second round, Berrettini faces a tough challenge against 12th-seeded Holger Rune. A victory would improve his tour-level record to 28-8 this season and bring him closer to his goal of a top-32 ranking."It would be nice to be in the top 32 at the end of the year and to be seeded in Australia," Berrettini said. "But at the same time for me the most important thing is being healthy and being able to play."Rune holds a 2-1 head-to-head advantage over Berrettini, but the Italian will be determined to level the score and continue his pursuit of a strong finish to the season.

Indian tennis star Sumit Nagal's Shanghai Masters campaign came to an end in the first round on Wednesday, as he fell to China's Yibing Wu in straight sets. Nagal, ranked 134th in the world, put up a valiant effort but was ultimately outplayed by the 113th-ranked Wu, who won 6-3, 6-3.The match started with both players holding serve comfortably. However, Wu broke Nagal's serve in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. Nagal fought back to level the set at 3-3, but Wu broke his serve again in the eighth game to take the set 6-3.The second set followed a similar pattern, with both players holding serve until the sixth game. Wu once again broke Nagal's serve to take a 4-2 lead. Nagal managed to hold his serve in the next game, but Wu broke him again in the eighth game to seal the victory.Despite the loss, Nagal can take heart from his performance in Shanghai. He played with determination and showed that he has the potential to compete at the highest level. He will now turn his attention to the upcoming tournaments in the Asian swing, where he will be hoping to improve his ranking and secure a place in the Australian Open main draw.

Novak Djokovic, a tennis legend, has achieved remarkable success in China, claiming 11 titles on Chinese soil, including the 2008 Masters Cup triumph in Shanghai. His undefeated reign over six trips to Beijing highlights his dominance in the region.Djokovic attributes his success to his love for Chinese dumplings and language. He believes these cultural connections contribute to his comfort and confidence on the court.Returning to China for the first time in five years, Djokovic is eager to compete at the Rolex Shanghai Masters. Despite missing last year's Asian swing, he remains optimistic about his chances.During a practice session with Zhang Zhizhen, Djokovic assessed the court conditions as "pretty fast," similar to his previous experiences. He emphasized the importance of serving well, a skill he has been honing in preparation for the tournament.Djokovic's first tournament since his third-round exit at the US Open has provided him with ample time to prepare. He hopes to leverage his "freshness" to his advantage as he aims for his 100th career title."I just love playing here, love the conditions, love the support that I get," Djokovic said. "I also have an extra motivation of trying to go for my 100th title."Djokovic will begin his campaign against the winner of Alex Michelsen and Bu Yunchaokete. With his experience and determination, he remains a formidable contender for the Shanghai Masters title.