Shanghai Masters: Carlos Alcaraz beats Daniel Evans on debut to reach last 16

Top seed Carlos Alcaraz comes back from a break down in both sets to beat Daniel Evans 7-6(1), 6-4 and reach the last 16 on his debut in Shanghai on Monday.

With the victory, the Spaniard improved his form in 2023 to 63-8 and 41-1 against players ranked outside the Top 20.

“It was a really tough match. It was one of the toughest matches I have played outside of the Grand Slams,” Alcaraz said. “Every time I play Daniel it is a tricky match and I have to play my best to beat him… Both of us played a high quality of tennis and I am really happy to get through.”

The 20-year-old now boast of a tour-leading 63rd win of the season and has closed the gap on Novak Djokovic to 500 points in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin. If Alcaraz reaches the title match he will leapfrog the Serbian into first place.

Alcaraz will next face Grigor Dimitrov who he has a 3-0 lead in their head to head series in the Round of 16.