Canadian tennis players showcased stellar performances in the Shanghai Masters men’s tennis tournament, effortlessly advancing to the third round on Saturday. Montreal’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, seeded 12th, triumphed over Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo with a commanding 6-3, 6-3 victory. Similarly, Denis Shapovalov from Richmond Hill, Ont., seeded 23rd, secured a straight-set win by defeating Australia’s Christopher O’Connell 6-3, 6-2.
Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov are set to compete on Monday, facing off against Jesper De Jong from the Netherlands and Jiri Lehecka from the Czech Republic, respectively. Another Canadian contender, Gabriel Diallo, is scheduled to take on Belgium’s David Goffin in a thrilling third-round match on Sunday.
In a separate match, reigning champion Jannik Sinner commenced his title defense at the Shanghai Masters with a convincing victory over Daniel Altmaier, winning 6-3, 6-3 and avenging a previous defeat at the French Open two years ago. Sinner’s triumph extended his winning streak to six matches following his recent triumph at the China Open in Beijing.
Reflecting on his performance, Sinner acknowledged the challenges faced in adapting from Beijing to Shanghai due to varying conditions, emphasizing the need for physical readiness for upcoming matches. Notably, top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the tournament due to a left ankle injury.
Additionally, seventh-seeded Alex de Minaur advanced to the next round with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Camilo Ugo Carabelli, seeking to make his mark in the competition after a setback in the Beijing semifinals. Sinner is now gearing up to face Tallon Griekspoor, whom he has a commanding 6-0 lead in career meetings, showcasing his determination to continue his winning streak in the tournament.