Shanghai Masters: Who Will be the Supreme Master?

All four 2018 Grand Slam events have been played.

But that does not mean the tennis world is on a break. This month alone, there are over 10 tennis events taking place all over the world, including the Shanghai Masters.

The Shanghai Masters is an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament played on outdoor hard courts, and held annually in early October. Being an ATP tournament, it features the best names in the male category of the sport.

The event which started October 7^th will see it’s final take place on Sunday. From 48 players, only four have been able to make the semi-final – which will be played today.

It may not be a Grand Slam event but all four remaining names jostling to win this event are heavyweights in the sport.

Roger Federer, who inflicted yet another defeat on Kei Nishikori in the quarter-finals, is the World No. 2. Novak Djokovic is 3rd on the rankings, while Alexander Zverev is ranked 5^th. The odd one out amongst the four remaining players is Borna Coric who is ranked the 19^th best male tennis player in the world.

For the likes of Federer and Djokovic, it will be all about getting into the finals and squaring off  against each other, like old times. Both players are currently locked in a battle for the World No. 2 spot, with the Serbian star just two wins away from pipping the 37-year-old.

All he needs is to make the final of the Shanghai Masters to go up a ranking.

Novak Djokovic’s semi-final opposition is Zverev, while Federer will face Coric in the other semi-final match-up. For Zverev and Coric (both 21 years old), this is another chance to give the veterans a run for their money.

The odds are stacked against them – it is experience versus youth. But who’s to say a player like Coric, who defeated Stan Wawrinka and forced Just Martin del Potro to a loss – via retirement – cannot go all the way to the final?

As of the time of writing this piece, the first semifinal has already started with Zverev losing the first set 6-2.

Whichever names make it into the final, it sure will be a final that will be worth watching, and also worth predicting its outcome. Which of these names do you think will be laughing last on Sunday?

Will it be a Federer win to cement 2^nd spot on the rankings? Will Novak take his chances and continue his fine run of form and winning this one? Or will one of the youngsters cause an upset? Share your thoughts with us by leaving us your comments.