Alex de Minaur reaches Shanghai Masters third round; Rublev crashes out early
Alex de Minaur cruises into the Shanghai Masters third round while Yoshihito Nishioka stuns Andrey Rublev in a thrilling comeback match.
New Delhi: Seventh seed Alex de Minaur continued his solid run on the Asian swing with a convincing straight-sets win to enter the third round of the Shanghai Masters on Saturday. The Australian defeated Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-4, 6-2 in just over an hour, showing sharp movement and clinical finishing from the baseline.
De Minaur, who reached the semifinals at the China Open earlier this week, maintained his momentum despite falling short against Jannik Sinner in Beijing. That defeat marked his 11th straight loss to the Italian but in Shanghai, De Minaur appeared refreshed and eager to push deeper into the draw.
With his trademark speed and counterpunching game, the world No. 11 dictated play throughout the match as he broke Ugo’s serve four times and never looked in real trouble. The victory sets him up nicely for another solid run as he eyes a strong finish to the season.
Rublev stunned, Nishioka pulls off comeback win
The day also brought an early shock for fans as 13th seed Andrey Rublev suffered a surprise exit. The Russian looked in control early but couldn’t sustain his rhythm, falling 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 to Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka. Nishioka who is known for his grit and court coverage turned the match around after a sluggish start using clever angles and consistency to frustrate Rublev.
The loss continues a tough stretch for Rublev, who has struggled to find form over the past few tournaments. Meanwhile, Nishioka’s win gives him a valuable boost as he aims to make a deeper run in Shanghai.
Elsewhere, 12th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime moved through with a comfortable 6-3, 6-3 win over Alejandro Tabilo. The Canadian looked in control throughout, serving well and dictating the pace of rallies. Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak also advanced in style, defeating 29th seed Brandon Nakashima 6-4, 6-0 in a dominant display.
With several top players receiving byes into the second round, the field is beginning to take shape. Jannik Sinner, fresh off his title run in Beijing, was set to face Daniel Altmaier later in the day. Meanwhile, world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, who lifted the Japan Open trophy last week, announced his withdrawal from Shanghai due to minor physical issues leaving the draw slightly more open for contenders like De Minaur.