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The high stakes are coming sharply into focus at the 2023 Rolex Shanghai Masters.
A new champion will be crowned when the tournament concludes on Sunday, with other maiden career milestones also within reach for many notable names.
For No.5 seed Andrey Rublev, a successful campaign in Shanghai could be a key step towards qualifying for the season-ending ATP Finals field. After a pleasing opening-round win over Quentin Halys, the Russian faces Adrian Mannarino next.
If the reception he has received so far in Shanghai is an indication, Rublev can expect strong support. "I didn't expect (it) because last time when I've been in China was nothing similar to what is happening this year. I was really surprised," Rublev smiled.
"I can only be grateful for such a warm welcome and the support that I'm getting."
Rublev is fully aware of the challenge against the 35-year-old Frenchman, who currently sits at world No.25. They've played three times, with Rublev holding a 2-1 match-winning lead.
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz has the chance to add a fifth ATP Masters 1000 title in his tournament debut. As he moved a step closer to that objective with a straight-sets win over Gregoire Barrere, the 20-year-old Spaniard was feeling only positive vibes.
"Coming here to Shanghai I felt great playing out there in the Center Court, it was an amazing court as well," Alcaraz said. "Yeah, the crowd is always amazing. In the practice as well, it was a full crowd.
"It's an amazing feeling for me, even if it is the first time that I am coming to China and feeling this energy … it's something that I didn't expect before coming here."
Alcaraz is aiming to maintain an unbeaten record against Daniel Evans, the tournament's 30th seed, as they open the night session at Qi Zhong Stadium.
The Spaniard has dropped only one set in three matches against the Brit, doing so in their last contest at the 2023 US Open.
Alcaraz warmed up for his third-round match with a win over Gregoire Barrere, while Evans was leading by a set when second-round opponent Mikhail Kukushkin retired.
Stefanos Tsitsipas will draw on positive memories from previous Rolex Shanghai Masters campaigns - including his run to the 2019 semifinal - when he faces Ugo Humbert. The fourth-seeded Greek has played three matches against the No.32 Frenchman, with a lone win coming at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Canada in 2021.
Monday's play in Shanghai also sees the return of some American stars. Tommy Paul, who is within reach of a top-10 ranking, aims to stop the charge of French teenager Arthurs Fils in the first match on Show Court 3. It will be a first match between the pair.
Taylor Fritz, who was pushed to three sets in his opening-round win over Yosuke Watanuki, faces world No.130 Diego Schwartzman for the third time in his career. While Schwartzman holds a 2-1 match-winning record over the seventh-seeded American, they haven't competed since 2019.
JJ Wolf, meanwhile, aims to continue his stellar progress at the tournament - which so far includes wins over Pedro Cachin and an upset of No.15 seed Cameron Norrie - when he faces Matteo Arnaldi.
Karen Khachanov, the tournament's 13th seed, and No.18 Grigor Dimitrov are also third-round action. Khachanov is yet to win a match in two meetings with the Bulgarian, who opened his campaign with a straight-sets win over Aleksandar Vukic.
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