Alcaraz feeling fresh ahead of Shanghai Masters, Djokovic looking to ride momentum

[p]The world number three said his body was still adjusting to playing demanding matches after coming back from a wrist injury that sidelined him from April until the US Open in August.[/p][p]But he comes into Shanghai having won the Japan Open on Tuesday, beating [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lehecka-jiri/6PlgfXKR/"]Jiri Lehecka[/a] 7-6(4), 6-4 in the final.[/p][p]"[b]I'm feeling very good. Physically I'm well, I'm feeling mentally fresh[/b]," the 23-year-old told reporters in the Chinese city.[/p][p]"I'm training very well, so we'll see."[/p][embed guid="37b12e41-ba5b-46fd-ab23-51b8e870d745" url="https://x.com/SH_RolexMasters/status/2108098813869129881" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alcaraz-garfia-carlos/UkhgIFEq/"]Alcaraz[/a] has never gone beyond the quarter-finals in Shanghai, and missed last year's tournament due to fitness issues.[/p][p]The former world number one has previously criticised the packed tennis schedule, particularly the autumn "Asian swing" that follows the US Open.[/p][p]"[b]If we see a couple years back, you know, probably this swing or this part of the season, it's never been my best one[/b]," Alcaraz said.[/p][p]But he added that he was "ready to take on the challenge" in Shanghai, where he will kick off his campaign against either Argentina's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cerundolo-juan-manuel/A93TM7BR/"]Juan Manuel Cerundolo[/a] or qualifier [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mejia-nicolas/QcT8wHe4/"]Nicolas Mejia[/a] of Colombia in the second round.[/p][p]Alcaraz's path to victory has opened up after current world number one [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sinner-jannik/6HdC3z4H/"]Jannik Sinner[/a] announced on Tuesday he was ending his 2026 season with a knee injury.[/p][p]His main rivals in the draw are Germany's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zverev-alexander/dGbUhw9m/"]Alexander Zverev[/a], the current world number two, and Serbian veteran [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/djokovic-novak/AZg49Et9/"]Novak Djokovic[/a], who claimed his 102nd career title in Beijing on Tuesday.[/p][h2]Djokovic hails Sinner's 'big-picture' thinking[/h2][p]Djokovic, 39, told reporters in Shanghai that Sinner was "smart" to call time on his season to heal.[/p][p]"[b]He has to think long-term[/b]," Djokovic said. "[b]That's smart because, you know, as someone that... always tried to have the big picture in my mind, I really support that[/b]."[/p][p]"[b]It's important that you give yourself more years to your career, so you have more chances to accomplish all of your objectives[/b]," added the 24-time Grand Slam champion.[/p][embed guid="8f74fec2-9d7a-4989-9c42-83961206365e" url="https://x.com/SH_RolexMasters/status/2108119352813981982" social-type="twitter" /][p]Djokovic is riding the momentum of his Beijing triumph into the prestigious Shanghai event, which he has won a record four times but not since 2018.[/p][p]"It[b] was a phenomenal week for me, Beijing, the best week of this year, no doubt[/b]," the former world number one said.[/p][p]"[b]I'm trying to... use the confidence and hopefully have another great deep run[/b]."[/p][p]Djokovic will start his tournament against Poland's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hurkacz-hubert/zuHOBnY9/"]Hubert Hurkacz[/a] in the second round.[/p]