| October 1, 2024 | by Vivienne Christie |
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Qualifying for a place in the Rolex Shanghai Masters main draw presents a golden opportunity.
Not only is the event the only ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Asia, but it also provides one final chance for players to gain significant prestige and rankings points before the season concludes.
For Aleksander Vukic, the No.2 seed in the 48-player qualifying field, it was an occasion to relish. The Australian completed a successful qualifying campaign with a straight-sets victory over America's Mitchell Krueger, ensuring he'll contest the Rolex Shanghai Masters main draw for a second straight year.
"I think I was only one (rankings place) out from main draw, from getting into the original list," the 28-year-old smiled. "I was determined to get there and now the main draw starts."
The world No.90 brings the benefit of two impressive match wins at Qi Zhong Tennis Centre. After navigating the challenge of big-serving American Maxine Cressy in his opening match, he gained early breaks of serve in both sets against Krueger to seize an important win.
"It was really good. I thought I served well and played a really solid match in tricky conditions," said Vukic, who registered 13 aces and not a single double fault over an 81-minute match contested in changeable conditions.
"It's gone from really hot and humid to cold and windy. I handled it pretty well today and overall, I'm really happy."
Vukic will be joined in the main draw by Australian countryman Li Tu, who will make his ATP Masters 1000-level debut after victory over China's Xiao Linang.
"I'm very pleased with the result. It's my first Masters 1000 main draw," beamed Lu following victory over the local favourite on Qi Zhong's stadium court. "It was a tricky opponent today, especially with the home crowd … so I had to bring a good level.
"I got off to a good start at 2-0 and then I just tried to ride that momentum the whole way through."
Dan Evans ensured Great Britain will be represented in the 2024 main draw, claiming a hard-fought victory over Australia's Alex Bolt. In a rain-delayed match, the 34-year-old Brit claimed his 6-1 1-6 7-5 win in just over two hours.
Beibit Zhukayev proved too tough for another Brit, Billy Harris, with the 196th-ranked Kazakhstani claiming a 7-5 2-6 6-4 victory to qualify for the Shanghai main draw for a second consecutive year.
It was a promising day for Canadian tennis, with Gabriel Diallo overcoming Marco Trungelliti and former world No.10 Denis Shapovalov advancing when his Japanese opponent, Sho Shimabukuro retired with injury.
Another Japanese player, Yosuke Watanuki, qualified with victory against Korea's Seong Chan Kong.
There was also success for India's Ramkumar Ramanathan, Italian Mattia Bellucci, American No.14 seed Zachary Svajda, and Frenchman Terence Atmane.
Those players are no doubt delighted to extend their time at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, which was voted ATP Tournament of the Year for five straight years between 2009 and 2013.
"It's nice. I really like the conditions here," said Vukic. "We were saying Shanghai is really nice. The tournament is probably one of the best Masters, so it's a cool experience."
2024 Rolex Shanghai Masters - final qualifying round Dan Evans (GBR) d Alex Bolt (AUS) 6-2 1-6 7-5 Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) d Mitchell Krueger (USA) 6-4 6-4 Terence Atmane (FRA) d Adam Walton (AUS) 6-7(4) 6-4 6-4 Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND) d Sun Fajing (CHN) 6-2 6-4 Li Tu d Xiao Linang (CHN) 6-2 6-2 Denis Shapovalov d Sho Shimabukuro (JPN) 4-6 3-1 ret. Mattia Bellucci (ITA) d Aslan Karatsev 7-6(3) 6-1 Beibit Zhukayev (KAZ) d Billy Harris (GBR) 7-5 2-6 6-4 Gabriel Diallo (CAN) d Marco Trungelliti (ARG) 6-3 7-5 Egor Gerasimov d Alejandro Moro Canas (ESP) 6-7(3) 6-3 7-6(6) Yosuke Watanuki (JPN) d Seongchan Kong (KOR) 6-2 7-5 Zachary Svajda (USA) d Bai Yan (CHN) 6-2 6-2
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