Shanghai Masters 2026: Zverev top seed, Alcaraz second, Djokovic handed tough draw as event starts
Shanghai Masters runs 7-18 October. Zverev leads the seeds after Sinner's exit, Alcaraz is second and Djokovic, undecided on playing, has a tough path.
The Shanghai Masters gets under way on Wednesday with a draw that looks very different from what organisers would have hoped for a few weeks ago. Alexander Zverev is the top seed after Jannik Sinner pulled out, Carlos Alcaraz is seeded second, and four-time champion Novak Djokovic has been handed one of the toughest paths in the field, if he plays at all.
Shanghai shares Malaysia's time zone, so the daily sessions starting at 12pm and 6pm local time are at the same hour for fans here. The final is on Sunday 18 October at 4.30pm.
The basics
The Rolex Shanghai Masters runs from 7 to 18 October at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena. It is an ATP Masters 1000 event with a 96-player singles draw, so the 32 seeds receive first-round byes and need six wins to lift the trophy.
Total prize money is US$9,415,725, with the singles champion taking US$1,151,380 and 1,000 ranking points.
Seeds and projected paths
With Sinner out because of his knee, Zverev leads the field, followed by Alcaraz, Ben Shelton and Felix Auger-Aliassime. Zverev arrives looking to bounce back after losing to Djokovic in the Beijing quarter-finals.
Alcaraz sits in the bottom half and has drawn what many see as a kinder route. He could open against Juan Manuel Cerundolo, with defending champion Valentin Vacherot a possible fourth-round opponent and Daniil Medvedev projected in the quarter-finals.
Djokovic, seeded 10th, faces a much harder road. A possible second-round meeting with former champion Hubert Hurkacz could be followed by Lorenzo Musetti, with Frances Tiafoe, Shelton and Zverev also in his half.
Question marks over Djokovic and Medvedev
Djokovic said last week he had not decided whether he would play Shanghai and would judge it based on how he felt after Beijing. He reached the China Open final, which is being played tonight against Alex de Minaur, so a quick turnaround would be needed.
Medvedev also arrives under a cloud after being defaulted from his Beijing semi-final against Djokovic for hitting a ball that struck a spectator.
Vacherot's title defence
Last year's tournament produced one of the great surprises in Masters history. Vacherot, then ranked 204th and playing as a qualifier, beat his cousin Arthur Rinderknech 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the final to become the lowest-ranked Masters 1000 champion ever.
The player from Monaco has 1,000 points to defend, and he arrives in decent form after reaching the semi-finals in Tokyo, where he lost to Jiri Lehecka.
Djokovic holds the record for most Shanghai titles with four. The tournament was first played in 2009.
Key takeaways
- The Shanghai Masters runs 7 to 18 October, with the final at 4.30pm Malaysia time on 18 October.
- Zverev is top seed after Sinner's withdrawal; Alcaraz is second.
- Djokovic, seeded 10th, has a tough draw and is undecided about playing.
- Valentin Vacherot defends the title he won as a world No. 204 qualifier in 2025.
FAQ When does the 2026 Shanghai Masters start? Main-draw play begins on Wednesday 7 October and the final is on Sunday 18 October at 4.30pm, which is the same time in Malaysia. Who is the top seed in Shanghai? Alexander Zverev is seeded first after Jannik Sinner withdrew. Carlos Alcaraz is the second seed. Who won the Shanghai Masters in 2025? Valentin Vacherot of Monaco, who beat his cousin Arthur Rinderknech in the final as a qualifier ranked 204th.
Sources: ATP Tour, Yahoo Sports, Sunday Guardian, Aceify