Alcaraz Feels "Mentally Fresh" as Shanghai Masters Bid Begins

Carlos Alcaraz says he is arriving in Shanghai with a clear head and a full tank after ending his title drought in Tokyo. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the 23-year-old declared himself "mentally fresh" ahead of the Shanghai Masters, where he will try to improve on a record that has never taken him beyond the quarter-finals. The Japan Open crown could not have come at a better time. Alcaraz beat Jiri Lehecka 7-6(4), 6-4 in Tuesday's final — his first title since a wrist injury kept him out from April until the US Open in August. The win confirmed his recovery is complete and his confidence restored. Shanghai represents unfinished business. The Spaniard missed last year's edition through fitness issues and has yet to truly crack the event. He opens in round two against either Juan Manuel Cerundolo or qualifier Nicolas Mejia, and the draw beyond them is heavyweight territory: world No. 2 Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic, fresh from his 102nd career title in Beijing, loom as rivals. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, by contrast, has shut down his 2026 season with a knee injury. After months of frustration, Alcaraz finally has momentum again. Whether Shanghai is the place where that momentum becomes a title run is the week's most intriguing question.