Novak Djokovic is among the high-profile players to have arrived for the Shanghai Masters in the latest event of Asian Swing.
Home favourite Shang Juncheng won the Chengdu Open last month, with Carlos Alcaraz winning the China Open earlier this week.
Alcaraz played out an ‘unbelievable’ match with Jannik Sinner, with their battle in Beijing lasting well over three hours.
Sinner and Alcaraz headed to Shanghai together for the next event, where either may need to make it past Djokovic to clinch the title.
Several star names are taking part in the competition, although British number one Jack Draper has withdrawn from the Shanghai Masters through injury.
Novak Djokovic says what will be a ‘big advantage’ at the Shanghai Masters
The absence of the US Open semi-finalist will be a boost for the other competitors, although Djokovic may just be the man to beat.
Having been away from the tournament for five years, he has now shared his thoughts on the venue after practising in the build-up to his first match.
“I still think that the court is pretty fast,” Djokovic said in his Shanghai Masters press conference. “We discussed that, actually, players, yesterday and today on the court. The balls are different, so the balls probably slow down the game a little bit. It’s still quite quick. If you have a good serve, it’s a pretty big advantage.
“US Open was much quicker than it was in the previous years, so I think we’re kind of seeing the trend now, you know, with the courts speeding up, and for years they were slowing down. I understand that one of the reasons why is because US Open, for example, made their change, because there was way too many long matches, five-setters in the year before, previous years, and that messes up with the TV schedule and so forth.
“I don’t mind it, specifically, but I think it’s important when you’re making those changes that you are making those changes in a gradual way, rather than, you know, I felt like US Open speed of the court last year and this year is a lot different.
“I haven’t played here five years, but I do remember that Shanghai always had quick courts, fast courts, and that you really have to serve well. You have to serve well, that’s a big advantage, so that’s what I’m personally working on.”
Novak Djokovic leads the way with four Shanghai Masters titles
The top stars may want to beat Djokovic given his success in Shanghai, with the Serbian’s four titles more than any other player.
He is, however, lacking form ahead of the tournament, having fallen at the third round of the US Open, his most recent individual event.
Alcaraz meanwhile has enjoyed a rapid turnaround from his US Open disappointment, having also suffered an early exit in New York.
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He was the star player as Team Europe beat Team World at the Laver Cup, with the Spaniard then going on to win the China Open.
But Djokovic remains in high spirits thanks to his record in Shanghai, with the Serbian joking: “The secret of me doing well in Asian Swing and in China? I just think I love dumplings and Chinese language, I think that helps.”
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