pa href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/carlos-alcaraz/a0e2/overview'Carlos Alcaraz/a may be making only his second appearance at the a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/shanghai/5014/overview'Rolex Shanghai Masters/a this week, but the Spaniard has already forged a strong connection with Chinese fans./p
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ldquo;They are very passionate. The energy that they bring to me, to the matches, is insane. I like it,rdquo; Alcaraz told ATP Media. ldquo;I feel like they like when someone tries different shots or the match is becoming crazy in a certain way. It fits pretty well for my style, my personality on the court.rdquo;/p
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The 21-year-old demonstrated that manner of fearless hitting and exciting shotmaking most recently in Chinarsquo;s capital city Beijing, where Alcaraz won an epic three-set final against rival a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/jannik-sinner/s0ag/overview'Jannik Sinner/a on Wednesday. Fans will be looking ahead to a potential sequel, looming in the Shanghai semi-finals./p
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ldquo;I always think that when we play against each other, we put the level to the top. We bring a really high level of tennis,rdquo; Alcaraz said of his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Sinner. ldquo;I think thatrsquo;s good for tennis, to bring some fans to tennis who have probably never watched tennis beforehellip; /p
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ldquo;I always try to enjoy playing against Jannik. He pushes me to the limit every time. He makes me be a better player on court and try to find solutions. I think thatrsquo;s the beauty of tennis.rdquo;/p
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Alcaraz, who last year fell to a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/grigor-dimitrov/d875/overview'Grigor Dimitrov/a in the Shanghai fourth round, boasts a 48-9 season record, according to the Infosys ATP Stats Win-Loss Index, with four titles: Indian Wells, a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/roland-garros/520/overview'Roland Garros/a, a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/wimbledon/540/overview'Wimbledon/a and Beijing. After a shocking second-round exit at the a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/us-open/560/overview'US Open/a, the 16-time tour-level titlist quickly regrouped. Alcaraz is on a nine-match winning streak entering the seasonrsquo;s eighth ATP Masters 1000 event. /p
[ATP APP]
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ldquo;Irsquo;m enjoying when Irsquo;m playing. I wanted to travel again, play tournaments. Irsquo;m excited for whatrsquo;s nexthellip; After [the American hard-court swing], I had my days off and put myself on the [court] again, working hard again for the next tournaments and try to be healthy, to be ready, strong physically, mentally,rdquo; Alcaraz said./p
pldquo;I think I did pretty well. The last month has been a really good month for me with my team. When Irsquo;m feeling great off the court and travelling, I enjoy playing on court and I can show my best tennis.rdquo;/p
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Seeded third, Alcaraz faces a tough test in his opening match. The five-time ATP Masters 1000 champion meets home favourite and #NextGenATP a href="https://www.atptour.com/en/players/juncheng-shang/s0re/overview"Shang Juncheng/a, who recently won his first tour-level title in Chengdu. The 19-year-old lefty is at a career-high No. 51 in the PIF ATP Rankings. Alcaraz and Shang met in the third round of this yearrsquo;s a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/australian-open/580/overview'Australian Open/a, but the Chinese teenager was forced to retire due to injury in the third set./p
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Should Alcaraz win the Shanghai title, he would become the youngest champion in tournament history and first Spaniard to lift the trophy./p
p[NEWSLETTER FORM]/p
