Stan Wawrinka and Kei Nishikori have earned wild cards for the Shanghai Masters.
The tournament, which is the second-to-last Masters-1000 event of the season, will run from October 2 to 13. Big names like Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner are set to participate.
Djokovic’s participation was uncertain after he mentioned he was done with events outside Grand Slams and representing Serbia . He said this when asked about qualifying for the ATP Finals.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇠Stan Wawrinka | 39 | 633 | 3 - 8 |
He didn’t play in Shanghai last year either. His inclusion now might suggest he cares more about the ATP Finals than he let on, though he could still withdraw.
Top Players’ Concerns:
Fans might wonder if other top players will be fresh enough for Shanghai. Sinner and Alcaraz will have just played at the Japan Open before heading there.
Alcaraz has complained about the long season but plans to play exhibition matches in the off-season and another event in Saudi Arabia. He defended himself against critics who pointed out this contradiction.
Sinner takes a more balanced view. He acknowledges that while the tennis calendar is long, players can choose their tournaments carefully.
Backup plans are always smart for tournaments because even stars like Djokovic, Alcaraz, or Sinner can have off days. Wild cards help bring in additional top players to keep fans interested.
Wawrinka’s Legacy:
Wawrinka is a three-time Grand Slam champion and was one of the best players outside Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray during their peak years. At 39 years old, he’s still competing on tour despite struggling for victories this year but showing flashes of brilliance .
He also got a wild card for this year’s US Open, a tournament he won back in 2016. This shows how much respect there still is for him in tennis circles.
Nishikori’s Comeback:
Nishikori’s career seemed over due to a severe hip injury that kept him out for over two years. He tried coming back during the 2023 North American hardcourt season but had to stop again soon after.
However, he’s made another return at this year’s French Open and has been playing multiple tournaments without setbacks for nearly three years now! His recent performances have been impressive
Last month at the Canadian Open, Nishikori reached the quarterfinals. He’s set to face Marin Cilic at the Japan Open next—a rematch of their 2014 US Open final!
What do you think? Are you excited about these wild cards?
