In the sweltering heat of the Shanghai Rolex Masters, the second round is already delivering surprises on October 4, 2025. Dutch qualifier Jesper de Jong, who scraped through his opener against China's Zhou Yi in a grueling three-setter—7-6(4), 4-6, 6-3—now stares down a tougher challenge from Czech rising star Jakub Mensik. De Jong, ranked outside the top 100, showed real grit yesterday, saving match points and outlasting his opponent in just over two hours. But Mensik, the 19-year-old sensation who's climbed to No. 17 in the live ATP rankings, isn't one to underestimate. His powerful serve and aggressive baseline game have turned heads this season, with a string of deep runs in majors.
Indeed, this matchup on Show Court 3 promises fireworks. Mensik breezed past his first-round foe, but de Jong's resilience could force errors from the youngster. Over on the main stage, though, all eyes are on Daniel Altmaier's uphill battle against defending champion Jannik Sinner. The German, fresh off a solid win over qualifier Beibit Zhukayev, faces a Sinner who's defending his title with ruthless efficiency. Altmaier, at No. 84, has the tools—a heavy forehand and improving movement—but Sinner's 2025 form, including that Australian Open triumph, makes this feel like a foregone conclusion. Still, Shanghai's hard courts have seen upsets before; remember last year's wildcards causing chaos?
However, the tournament's depth is what's truly captivating. With top seeds like Novak Djokovic lurking in later rounds, these early clashes set the tone. De Jong's marathon win highlights how qualifiers can disrupt the script, while Mensik's poise suggests he's ready for prime time. Altmaier, meanwhile, carries the weight of underdog status against Sinner's machine-like precision. Moreover, the crowd here loves a fight, and today's schedule doesn't disappoint.
Yet as the balls fly and points pile up, one wonders if these encounters will redefine careers or just fade into the tournament's blur.