Matteo Arnaldi – Photo Getty Images
It was a very intense week at the ATP Masters 1000 in Shanghai 2023, a tournament full of surprises in which Hubert Hurkacz triumphed in the end while the big favorites experienced sensational disappointments. Let’s take a detailed look at how the events of this Chinese tournament could impact the rest of the year.
The penultimate Masters 1000 of the season ended with a truly unexpected ending. The ATP Masters 1000 in Shanghai 2023 will be remembered for the numerous upsets that led to the title of Hubert Hurkacz, who defeated Russia’s Andrey Rublev in the final. Djokovic’s absence and the untimely defeats of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev are just some of the events that led to this unexpected scenario, the effects of which could have strong implications for the near future.
Italians – negative balance
Various Italian players took part in the 2023 Shanghai Masters 1000 tournament, but their performance was not very positive. Here is a summary of their performances:
1. Jannik Sinner:
– Jannik Sinner reached the round of 16, but was eliminated in a hard-fought match against Ben Shelton.
2. Matteo Arnaldi and Lorenzo Sonego:
– Both Matteo Arnaldi and Lorenzo Sonego were eliminated in the 3rd round of the tournament. Arnaldi lost to JJ Wolf in a hard-fought match that ended in a third-set tiebreak. Sonego was also eliminated and lost to Chilean Nicolas Jarry in straight sets.
3. Lorenzo Musetti:
– Lorenzo Musetti made a surprise exit in the second round of the tournament, defeating Taipei player Yu Hsiou Hsu.
4. Other Italian players
– Other Italian players such as Stefano Napolitano and Fabio Fognini took part in the tournament but were not eliminated in the first round.
Despite the participation of several talented Italian players, no Italian was represented in the final stages of the tournament.
Underestimating Hubert Hurkacz is a mistake
The Pole did it again. Although Hubi was rarely considered a serious title contender, he managed to win his second Masters 1000 title. He may not have a particularly elegant or exciting playing style, but his ability to dominate with a powerful serve and incisive shots is remarkable. On fast pitches he will always be an opponent to fear.
Andrey Rublev: Tennis at the limit of rationality
It was a huge disappointment for the Russian to lose a final in which he had started as the big favorite. He could have added to his list of successes, but little things prevented him from winning. His difficulty dealing with emotions on the field does not appear to be decreasing, but rather increasing.
Carlos Alcaraz shows clear signs of fatigue
A lot has been said about the up-and-coming Spaniard. Given the intense schedule and the pressure of being among the best in the world, there is no reason to be alarmed by some defeats. Alcaraz shows signs of physical and mental exhaustion. He will be looking to get back on track in this final stretch of the season.
Sebastian Korda and Ben Shelton: Tennis promise
After defeating Medvedev and Sinner respectively, the two young talents establish themselves as some of the most promising young talents in the world. Their growth continues and they show surprising maturity for their age.
Nicolas Jarry on the rise, Diego Schwartzman is finding his form again
The Chilean’s season is remarkable and is improving with each tournament. The same goes for Schwartzman, who is slowly finding his form. After a difficult phase, the hard work finally seems to be paying off.
Francesco Paolo Villarico
