Novak Djokovic to meet Hubert Hurkacz in Shanghai Masters second round on October 9
Novak Djokovic will face Hubert Hurkacz in the second round of the Shanghai Masters at the Qizhong Tennis Centre in Shanghai on October 9. The match is scheduled to start at 6:00 pm local time (3:30 pm IST).
Djokovic, seeded 10th, received a first-round bye and now takes on Hurkacz, who won the Shanghai title in 2023. Hurkacz arrived after a strong Asian swing that included a Chengdu final and a Beijing semi-final; he beat James Duckworth 6-3, 7-6(4), serving 19 aces in 81 minutes to reach Shanghai. He retired in the second set against Alex de Minaur in Beijing after a thigh strain earlier in the week but was reported to have moved well against Duckworth.
Djokovic comes to Shanghai following his seventh China Open title, which was his 102nd career victory and extended his Beijing record to 34-0. The 39-year-old has said that most of his matches this year have been a physical struggle; he required medical timeouts and appeared tired in the Beijing final. A semi-final walkover and a retirement in the final reduced his time on court, but a ten-day Masters event follows immediately after his title week.
The pair have met eight times on tour, with Djokovic holding an 8-0 advantage; Hurkacz pushed him to five sets at Wimbledon in 2023. Analysts expect the contest to pivot on Hurkacz’s serve against Djokovic’s return. Given Djokovic’s long week in Beijing, the Serbian faces a significant challenge and a shock upset cannot be ruled out if he has not recovered.
Indian viewers can stream the second-round match on FanCode and the Tennis Channel. Sky UK will carry the Djokovic–Hurkacz tie for viewers in the United Kingdom, and the Tennis Channel will offer live coverage in the United States; fans worldwide can tune in via their respective broadcasters.
The second-round clash will be played on the outdoor hard courts of the Qizhong Tennis Centre in Shanghai on October 9 (Friday) with a tentative start time of 6 pm local time (3:30 pm IST).