Matteo Berrettini returned from a near two-month injury break and had a rough start to the Asian swing, falling in the first round of Hangzhou to Dalibor Svrcina. Encouragingly, he looked sharper in his next event in Tokyo, where he dominated Jaume Munar in the opener and pushed Casper Ruud in a competitive second-round battle.
Persistent fitness issues have derailed the Italian’s 2025 season, leading to fluctuating performances and inconsistent results. It remains to be seen what he can produce at the Shanghai Masters this week. The conditions are quite favorable for his game, but he can only take advantage if his fitness holds up.
Berrettini has fond memories at the Shanghai venue, having reached the semifinals on his main-draw debut in 2019. That run marked his first Masters semifinal and remains one of only two he has reached at this level. However, his next appearance in 2024 ended in disappointment, as he fell in the second round.
Adrian Mannarino also had a rough start to the Asian swing, losing in the first round at Hangzhou to the inexperienced Yibing Wu. However, he bounced back the following week in Beijing, reaching the second round as a qualifier by defeating the in-form Alexander Bublik, becoming the first player to beat Bublik at the ATP level since May.
The veteran Frenchman has been a perennial disappointment in big events throughout his long career, and the Shanghai Masters is no exception. Six of his seven appearances ended in either the qualifying rounds or the first round, with his only success coming in 2023, when he reached the third round.
Head-to-head: Adrian Mannarino leads 1-0. Much will depend on Matteo Berrettini’s physical condition. If he can perform near his best, he should win comfortably. However, if fitness issues limit him, Mannarino has the form and momentum to take advantage and claim the victory.
