Vukic Works Through Draw and Upsets Ruud
Aleksandar Vukic is ranked 91st on the ATP rankings currently, battling to stay in the top 100 and hopefully return to the top 50 where he has been before.
His current showing in Shanghai should assist him in achieving that.
Vukic had to go through qualifying to even reach the main draw of the event. He did so by winning in two straight against both Maxime Cressy and Mitchell Krueger.
His first main draw matchup was Frenchman Corentin Moutet in the round of 128. The match did not start as the Aussie would have wished.
In the opening four games of the match Vukic was unable to claim one victory, falling behind 0-4. He steadied the ship after this horrific start, holding in his next two service games but he was unable to break Moutet and as such, dropped the set 6-2.
He held his form from the end of set one into set number two, holding his first two service games before finding the all-important break to lead 3-1. He held serve the rest of the set and won the set 6-3.
In the third and deciding set, the pair traded breaks and worked the score to 4-4. Vukic was then able to break Moutet again and made no mistake as he served out the match at love.
Vukic’s next match was a significant step up in competition as he played eighth seeded Casper Ruud. Despite being the heavy underdog, Vukic made relatively easy work of Ruud.
He traded blows with the Norwegian early in the first set before finding a break to go up 4-3. He consolidated the break and eventually served out the set at love to take the 1-0 lead.
In the second set, Vukic again found the opening break. This time it was to take a 2-1 lead. This was all the Australian needed to complete the upset as he cruised to the finish line without giving up a break, winning 6-4, 6-4.
Vukic now faces 30th seed Tomas Machac in the round of 32 to keep his impressive run going.
Popyrin Cruising Thus Far
Alexei Popyrin is the less surprising Australian in the round of 32. He has been playing some of the best tennis of his career this season and as such was seeded 20th coming into this tournament.
This seeding granted him a bye through the opening round meaning his tournament began in the round of 64 against Miomir Kecmanovic.
Popyrin made quick work of the Serbian as he took the match 6-3, 6-2.
He came out and immediately set the tone in the match, holding serve and then breaking his opponent. From there the two would exchange holds and eventually Popyrin served out the set.
In the second set the Australian again went ahead early, breaking in the first game of the set. Then, Popyrin fought off two break points in the sixth game of the set to go ahead 4-2.
He would then turn right around and break Machac again before consolidating to close out the set 6-2.
With the win, Popyrin is through to the round of 32 where he has the tough task of playing Grigor Dimitrov.
Dimitrov is the ninth seed in the tournament and will present a difficult matchup for the Aussie with his relentless baseline play.
Alexei Popyrin and Aleksandar Vukic are carrying the torch for Australian mens tennis at the Shanghai Masters. They are the last two Australian’s standing as the round of 32 has rolled around. Both men will look to reach the round of 16 as they match up with higher seeded opponents.
