It’s a good thing Novak Djokovic seems to embrace a challenge. He faces a formidable one at the ATP 1000 Rolex Shanghai Masters.
Djokovic faces the toughest draw among the top players, based on the average world ranking of likely opponents. Djokovic was the runner-up at the 2024 version of this tournament and is the No. 4 seed for this year’s 96-player event that starts Oct. 1.
Djokovic’s most likely opponent for his first match is world No. 37 Corentin Moutet, who has the top world ranking among players who weren’t seeded.
To win the event, Djokovic might have to get through three of the top six players back-to-back-to-back – No. 6 Ben Shelton in the quarterfinals, No. 2 seed and defending champion Jannik Sinner in the semifinals, and top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz in the final.
Who got the toughest and easiest draws for the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters
Easiest draw for a top seed
No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev got the easiest draw among the top seeds, based on the average world ranking of likely opponents. After a first-round bye, Zverev opens against a qualifier or world No. 82 Mariano Navone. The next-best seed in Zverev’s quarter of the draw is No. 8 Lorenzo Musetti – a favorable matchup for Zverev on hard courts.
Toughest draw overall
Sebastian Korda could use a break – he’s down to No. 74 in the world after peaking at No. 15 – but he didn’t get one in the Shanghai draw. Korda faces the toughest draw in the field, based on the average world ranking of likely opponents. Korda will be an underdog against No. 45 Zizou Bergs in his first match. Every opponent thereafter could be ranked in the top 21.
Best opportunity for an unseeded player
World No. 75 Quentin Halys can’t complain about his draw. He gets a qualifier in Round 1. The next seeds in his path are No. 15 Jiri Lehecka and No. 23 Denis Shapovalov – respectable opponents, but not like facing an Alcaraz or a Sinner.
Update: And just like that, Novak Djokovic now has a pretty good draw for the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters. Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz's withdrawal moved Djokovic's likely first-round opponent, Corentin Moutet, to the top of the draw as the No. 33 seed.