Alcaraz Sweeps Cerundolo In Shanghai Opener

 SHANGHAI — Fresh off defending his Japan Open title in Tokyo, second seed Carlos Alcaraz made a seamless transition to China, defeating Argentina's Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6–3, 6–3 in the second round of the 2026 Rolex Shanghai Masters.

The Spaniard, receiving a first-round bye, took just 66 minutes to dispatch Cerundolo and secure his spot in the round of 32.

Dominant Service Display Under the Roof

Playing under the closed roof at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena, Alcaraz took complete control of the match with his serve and baseline variation.

Alcaraz fired 8 aces and won an overwhelming 86% of his first-serve points (31/36). After securing a late break to claim the opening set in 31 minutes, he immediately broke Cerundolo in the opening game of the second set to seal total momentum.

Match Statistics

Stat Line	Carlos Alcaraz	Juan Manuel Cerundolo
Scoreline	6–3, 6–3	3–6, 3–6
Aces	8	2
First Serve %	78%	54%
First Serve Points Won	86% (31/36)	66% (19/29)
Break Points Converted	3/7	0/0
Total Points Won	58	42

My Analysis

The Takeaway: Alcaraz carried his Tokyo championship form straight into Shanghai with minimal adjustment issues. Giving up zero break point opportunities on his own serve highlights his serving rhythm. With World No. 1 Jannik Sinner absent from the draw, Alcaraz remains the top favorite to capture his first Shanghai Masters crown.