Carlos Alcaraz dominated in his debut in the second round of the Shanghai Masters. The Spaniard, who has just won the China Open after defeating world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, has the chance to achieve a milestone that only Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic have achieved on the Asian tour: winning the Beijing-Shanghai double.
This victory marked Alcaraz's return to the top of the tennis world after a surprise elimination at the US Open. The Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion has once again looked almost unbeatable on court, with outstanding performances in the Laver Cup and Davis Cup.
Djokovic, a dominant figure in tennis over the last decade, managed to complete this double on three occasions between 2012 and 2015. His first feat came in 2012, where he defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Beijing and then Andy Murray in an epic showdown in Shanghai. In 2016, Andy Murray joined this exclusive list by winning both tournaments without dropping a single set, consolidating his position as world number one at the end of that season.
Alcaraz's opportunity to match this achievement not only highlights his talent and determination, but also the level of play that the Spaniard has managed to reach at just 21 years of age, attempting to break the records of the best tennis players in history.
With his aggressive style of play and a mentality that when things go well is a steamroller, Alcaraz has all the tools to put his name in the Olympus of the Asian tour.
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.