Alcaraz, Sinner edge closer to Shanghai Masters rematch

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are just one match away from their 11th career meeting, with the world’s top two players both winning their round-of-16 matches at the Shanghai Masters in China on Wednesday.

Sinner prevailed in a tight 6-4, 7-6 (1) victory over America’s Ben Shelton, a rematch of their fourth-round meeting in Shanghai this time last year.

Alcaraz also advanced in straight sets, avenging his Cincinnati Open loss to Gael Monfils with a 6-4, 7-5 win over the French veteran.

Sinner and Alcaraz met just last week in the China Open final, playing a three-and-a-half-hour epic that Alcaraz won 6-7 (6), 6-4, 7-6 (3) to take a 6-4 lead in their head-to-head standings.

Ahead of the Shanghai quarter-finals, Alcaraz holds a razor-thin lead in the outright odds across most tennis betting sites.

Bookmaker Bet365 has the Spaniard at $2.75 to win the title, with Novak Djokovic on the second line of betting at $2.87 and Sinner right behind on $3.

“With the freedom that I’m playing with, I feel like I’m not afraid about the mistakes,” Alcaraz said on Wednesday in Shanghai.

“I’m just trying to keep going all the time, keep trying if I miss it.

“Most of the time everything goes well, I can’t complain at all.”

Next up, Sinner will take on Daniil Medvedev this Thursday for a spot in the semi-finals.

The Italian trails 7-6 in the head-to-head ledger but has won six of the past seven against the Russian, including three this year, and is a $1.28 to prevail on Thursday.

For Alcaraz to make the semi-finals, he will need to navigate a clash against young Croatian star Tomas Machac, who upset No.11 seed Tommy Paul 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the round of 16.

The world No.2 is a heavy $1.08 favourite to win, having defeated Machac earlier this year in Davis Cup action.

In the other half of the Shanghai draw, No.2 seed Alexander Zverev was stunned by world No.66 David Goffin in the tournament’s first big upset.

The German crashed out 6-4, 7-5 at the hands of the Belgian veteran, who will now go through to play the in-form Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals.

Four-time Shanghai champion Djokovic looms as a potential semi-final opponent for the winner, with the Serbian defeating Roman Safiullin 6-3, 6-2 to book a quarter-final against Jakub Mensik.

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