Carlos Alcaraz, the world No. 3, arrived in Shanghai on 8 October 2026 brimming with confidence after clinching the Japan Open title in Tokyo, declaring himself mentally primed for the Shanghai Masters — the eighth ATP Masters 1000 event of the season. The Spaniard, who missed more than four months of action this year due to a wrist injury, is now firmly back in rhythm as the 2026 campaign enters its final stretch.

Alcaraz on Mental Freshness

Speaking at his pre-tournament press conference, Alcaraz was candid about the importance of his mental state heading into the hard-court swing in China. 'I'm feeling fresh mentally, which for me it's the most important thing,' he said. 'I'm ready to take the challenge of this tournament. If we see a couple years back, probably this swing or this part of the season, it's never been my best one.'

He added that the late-season run carries extra motivation: 'Right now, I just want to be in a good state for this tournament, because I really want to win the tournaments, this one and the tournaments that I have in a couple months at least one day. So right now, I think it's an extra boost that I have for the rest of the season.'

Route Back to Form

Alcaraz's return to competitive tennis began at the US Open 2026, where he reached the quarterfinals before losing to American Ben Shelton, unable to defend his title. He then travelled to Tokyo, where he secured his third tour-level title of the year — adding the Japan Open crown to earlier victories at the Australian Open and the Qatar Open in Doha. The ATP 500 triumph in Tokyo has provided the momentum he needed heading into the Masters 1000 in Shanghai.

Words of Encouragement for Holger Rune

Away from his own campaign, Alcaraz spoke warmly about Danish player Holger Rune, who endured an 11-month injury absence after suffering an Achilles injury in October last year. Alcaraz had trained with Rune for a week in August at his base in Murcia.

'It's a slow process. The injury he had, it's a really complicated one because I would say the movement in tennis, I would say it's almost everything,' Alcaraz said. He acknowledged that Rune 'might lose some matches right now' but stressed: 'I'm really happy to see him back on court... He has to be patient because it's going to be a slow process, but he's going to get to the point he wants to get.'

Shanghai Draw and Historical Record

Alcaraz has received a first-round bye in Shanghai and is scheduled to open his campaign in the second round against either Juan Manuel Cerundolo or Colombian qualifier Nicolas Mejia. Notably, the Spaniard has never advanced beyond the quarterfinals in any of his previous appearances at the tournament — a record he will be eager to improve upon.

Despite that statistical gap, Alcaraz expressed genuine affection for the tournament and its crowd: 'I just love it every time that I come here, because I think they appreciate good tennis, the matches, every time that you just walk around, I think it's great. The people are super into it.'

What to Watch

With the 2026 season nearing its conclusion, a deep run in Shanghai — and the tournaments to follow — could significantly reshape the year-end rankings. Alcaraz will be looking to go one step further than his best previous Shanghai showing, and his rediscovered form after injury makes him one of the most compelling contenders in the draw.