Shanghai Masters: Alcaraz beats Cerundolo in 66 minutes as defending champion Vacherot edges Baez

Carlos Alcaraz made a smooth start at the Shanghai Masters on Saturday 10 October, beating Argentina's Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-3, 6-3 in 66 minutes to reach the third round. On the same day, defending champion Valentin Vacherot of Monaco began his title defence with a 6-4, 7-6(5) win over Sebastian Baez. Several top seeds needed three sets to get through.

Alcaraz quick and comfortable

The second seed, playing his first match in Shanghai after winning the Japan Open, hit 24 winners and won 13 of his 20 points at the net. The win stretched his run to seven straight matches. He was happy with the playing conditions. "The speed of the court is very fast, which I like," he said afterwards.

He also arrived with a new look: a trimmed moustache. Alcaraz explained that his team had agreed to grow moustaches for the week after his title in Tokyo. Next up for the Spaniard is Belgium's Zizou Bergs, who thrashed 32nd seed Ignacio Buse 6-0, 6-3.

Vacherot's unbeaten Shanghai run goes on

Vacherot's 2025 triumph was one of the great surprises in recent tennis history. He won the title as world No. 204, the lowest-ranked champion in the event's history, beating his cousin Arthur Rinderknech in the final. A year later he arrives as world No. 14, a career high, but with 1,000 ranking points to defend.

Against Baez he held his nerve in a second-set tie-break to keep his record at the tournament perfect. Counting his two qualifying wins in 2025, he has now won 10 matches in a row in Shanghai. His next opponent is 15th seed Tommy Paul, who beat Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 6-2, 6-2. The pair have never met. The winner could face Alcaraz in the fourth round.

Comebacks for Medvedev and Auger-Aliassime

Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev lost the first set to Jan-Lennard Struff before winning 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime also had to come from behind, edging Camilo Ugo Carabelli 4-6, 7-6(1), 7-5. Rafael Jodar, the 12th seed, recovered from a set down to beat Thiago Agustin Tirante and saved all six break points he faced in the decider.

There were also wins for Arthur Fils, Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud, Learner Tien and Jiri Lehecka. Stefanos Tsitsipas beat 18th seed Luciano Darderi 6-3, 6-4 for his 400th tour-level match win and will play Fritz next. Ruud ended the run of Chinese wildcard Bu Yunchaokete 6-1, 7-6(2).

Seeds that fell

Five seeds went out on Saturday. Tsitsipas accounted for Darderi, qualifier Dalibor Svrcina beat 28th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry in three sets, Botic van de Zandschulp beat 31st seed Alex Michelsen in straight sets, and Pablo Carreno Busta came through against 29th seed Alejandro Tabilo. Bergs completed the list with his rout of Buse.

Key Saturday results

• (2) Carlos Alcaraz bt Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-3 6-3
• (17) Valentin Vacherot bt Sebastian Baez 6-4 7-6(5)
• (5) Daniil Medvedev bt Jan-Lennard Struff 4-6 6-4 6-3
• (4) Felix Auger-Aliassime bt Camilo Ugo Carabelli 4-6 7-6(1) 7-5
• (11) Taylor Fritz bt Matteo Arnaldi 7-5 6-4
• (8) Arthur Fils bt (Q) Pavel Kotov 6-3 6-4
• Stefanos Tsitsipas bt (18) Luciano Darderi 6-3 6-4

The tournament, played at Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena, runs until the final on Sunday 18 October. Shanghai is in the same time zone as Malaysia, so match times in the draw are the same in Malaysia time.

Key takeaways

• Carlos Alcaraz beat Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-3, 6-3 in 66 minutes and next plays Zizou Bergs.
• Defending champion Valentin Vacherot beat Sebastian Baez 6-4, 7-6(5) and faces Tommy Paul next.
• Medvedev, Auger-Aliassime and Jodar all won after losing the first set.
• Five seeds lost on Saturday, including Etcheverry to qualifier Dalibor Svrcina.
• The Shanghai final is on Sunday 18 October.

FAQ

Who does Alcaraz play next in Shanghai? Belgium's Zizou Bergs, who beat 32nd seed Ignacio Buse 6-0, 6-3 on Saturday.

How did Vacherot win Shanghai in 2025? He came through qualifying as world No. 204 and beat his cousin Arthur Rinderknech in the final, becoming the lowest-ranked champion in the event's history.

When is the 2026 Shanghai Masters final? The final is scheduled for Sunday 18 October 2026 at Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena.

Sources: Perfect Tennis, Sky Sports, Punto de Break, Tennis Upto Date