{"id":23798,"date":"2026-10-07T19:29:03","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T16:29:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/7bet.co.uk\/blog\/?p=23798"},"modified":"2026-10-07T19:29:03","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T16:29:03","slug":"shanghai-masters-draw-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/7bet.co.uk\/blog\/shanghai-masters-draw-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Shanghai Masters Draw (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The <\/span>Shanghai Masters draw<\/span> was <\/span>made on Monday 5 October<\/b> and set the bracket for one of the biggest tennis tournaments of the year, and the last of the Asian swing. The <\/span>Rolex Shanghai Masters<\/span> is played at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena from 7 to 18 October. The draw consists of <\/span>96 players<\/b> in the singles draw and leads to the final on Sunday, the 18<\/span>th<\/span>, where the winner is crowned.<\/span><\/p>\n

Below, on this page, you can find the confirmed top seeds, an explanation of how byes work, and an introduction to wild cards and qualifier slots. In addition, 7bet experts will list some matchups that are worth watching. Keep in mind that late withdrawals can change the picture, so stay up to date by following ATP\u2019s official website. 7bet offers prices for every round on the <\/span>Shanghai Masters betting page<\/span><\/a> for UK players aged 18 and over.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_js el_class=”banner-highlight”]JTNDc2NyaXB0JTIwdHlwZSUzRCUyMnRleHQlMkZqYXZhc2NyaXB0JTIyJTIwc3JjJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZqcy43YmV0LnBhcnRuZXJzJTJGamF2YXNjcmlwdC5waHAlM0ZwcmVmaXglM0RnMHRwcEFNSVpFbTdqUEZ6Ml9HckFXTmQ3WmdxZFJMayUyNmFtcCUzQm1lZGlhJTNENDczJTI2YW1wJTNCY2FtcGFpZ24lM0Q0MCUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRnNjcmlwdCUzRQ==[\/vc_raw_js][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Shanghai Masters Draw | Main Information<\/b><\/h2>\n

The Shanghai Masters is one of the biggest events on the ATP\u2019s calendar. Unlike a 500 tournament, it runs for nearly a fortnight and has a 96-player pool, meaning the bracket works entirely differently. Favourites have byes and are tested differently, while qualifiers have to play their hearts out to progress against fresher opposition. The key dates for the tournament are set out below.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”eb-table”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Date<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nWhat happens<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mon 5 October<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nMain draw announced<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5\u20136 October<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nQualifying rounds<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wed 7 October<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nMain draw begins (first round)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sat 17 October<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nSemi-finals<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sun 18 October<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nFinal<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

96 Players, 32 Byes<\/b><\/h3>\n

The singles draw has 96 spots, but it\u2019s built on a 128-line bracket. This means that you have 32 empty lines, which are given to the <\/span>32 seeded players as byes<\/b>. These seeds skip the first round and start in the second, while the other 64 athletes (direct entries, wild cards and qualifiers) face off in the first to get a shot at a seeded player.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At the end, a seeded player only needs to win 6 matches to lift the trophy, whereas an unseeded entry needs 7.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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How the Draw Is Conducted<\/b><\/h3>\n
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  1. Seeds are placed<\/b>. They are based on the most recent ATP rankings.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Top seed separation<\/b>. The top seed goes to the top of the bracket, while the second seed sits at the bottom, so they can only meet in the final.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Further separation into quarters<\/b>. Seeds #3 and #4 are drawn into other quarters, which means that you can only face another TOP 4 seed from the semi-finals onwards.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Final assignments<\/b>. The next four seeds are then placed so that every quarter holds two of the top eight.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Everyone else is drawn at random, usually with the help of computers. Before qualifying is completed, \u201cQ\u201d indicates slots reserved for qualifiers.<\/span><\/p>\n

    [vc_raw_html]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[\/vc_raw_html]<\/span><\/p>\n

    Top Seeds for Shanghai Masters 2026<\/b><\/h2>\n

    The Shanghai Masters seeds determine the flow of the draw. Since Jannik Sinner has withdrawn due to ongoing knee problems, <\/span>Alexander Zverev is the top seed<\/b>, with Carlos Alcaraz coming in 2<\/span>nd<\/span>. Seed numbers could shift slightly if a late withdrawal forces a change, but the top of the list seems settled. Below is a list of top ATP seeds for the <\/span>2026 Shanghai Masters draw.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”eb-table”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Seed<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nPlayer<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nCountry<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nNotes<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    1<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nAlexander Zverev<\/span><\/td>\nGermany<\/span><\/td>\nTop seed, won 2 slams in 2026<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    2<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nCarlos Alcaraz<\/span><\/td>\nSpain<\/span><\/td>\nBottom of the draw, recently won in Tokyo<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    3<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nBen Shelton<\/span><\/td>\nUnited States<\/span><\/td>\nUS Open finalist<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    4<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nF\u00e9lix Auger-Aliassime<\/span><\/td>\nCanada<\/span><\/td>\n\u2014<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    5<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nDaniil Medvedev<\/span><\/td>\n\u2014<\/span><\/td>\nSame half as Alcaraz<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    6<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nFlavio Cobolli<\/span><\/td>\nItaly<\/span><\/td>\n\u2014<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    7<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nFrances Tiafoe<\/span><\/td>\nUnited States<\/span><\/td>\n\u2014<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    8<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nArthur Fils<\/span><\/td>\nFrance<\/span><\/td>\n\u2014<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    9<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nAlex de Minaur<\/span><\/td>\nAustralia<\/span><\/td>\n\u2014<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    10<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nNovak Djokovic<\/span><\/td>\nSerbia<\/span><\/td>\n4-time champion, Zverev\u2019s half<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    17<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nValentin Vacherot<\/span><\/td>\nMonaco<\/span><\/td>\nDefending champion<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Seeds 11 to 16 are not shown. All 32 seeds receive a first-round bye.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

    While Zverev holds the 1<\/span>st<\/span> seed, he\u2019s not the only favourite. <\/span>Alcaraz is also seen as a leading contender<\/b> to go all the way, especially after his solid showing in Tokyo just last week. Ben Shelton, seeded third, is always a threat on faster hard courts. If the American\u2019s US Open form was any indication of what\u2019s to come, he may be ready for primetime. You can find the favourite outright odds for this tournament in the <\/span>tennis betting hub<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Novak Djokovic is one of the most interesting seeding stories<\/b>. While the Serbian has won in Shanghai 4 times already, his ranking only puts the legend at 10<\/span>th<\/span>, and he\u2019s not protected like a Top 8 seed would be. He\u2019s in the same half as Zverev, meaning the <\/span>Joker <\/span><\/i>could face Francis Tiafoe (7), Ben Shelton (3), all just to meet with Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals. Winning in such a situation could be a monumental achievement for the 39-year-old.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Defending champion Valentin Vacherot is seeded 17<\/span>th<\/span>. When he won last year, the Monegasque arrived ranked No. 204, and now he sits inside the Top 20.<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Qualifiers, Wild Cards & Lucky Losers for the Shanghai Masters<\/b><\/h2>\n

    As you may or may not know, not every line in the bracket is filled by ranking. There are actually <\/span>four additional routes to bring your name into the main draw<\/b>. Each one works differently, and we\u2019ll explain them below.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Wild Cards<\/b><\/h3>\n

    The organisers hand out wild cards at their discretion. As an unwritten rule, they\u2019re reserved for home players, returning names or players who might be ranked disproportionately to their level.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Chinese wild card Wu Yibing and Zhang Zhizhen are the headline names<\/b> in the 2026 field. Yibing is in the same section as top seed Zverev. This gives local crowds someone to cheer on.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Qualifiers<\/b><\/h3>\n

    The pre-tournament qualifying ran on 5 and 6 October. <\/span>The 12 winners take the \u201cQ\u201d slots in the bracket.<\/b> Last year\u2019s qualifying champion Valentin Vacherot came through the pre-tournament and still dispatched everyone who stood against him to take home the prize. Still, every qualifier good enough to advance to the main tournament will play a seeded player in round two.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Protected Rankings<\/b><\/h3>\n

    Players returning from injury or other absences can use a protected ranking to gain entry<\/b>. For the 2026 edition, Holger Rune (World No. 195 right now) joined the field this way. While a protected ranking gets the player in the draw, it does not give them a seed, meaning they start in the 1<\/span>st<\/span> round.<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Lucky Losers<\/b><\/h3>\n

    If any players withdraw after the draw is made, their place can go to a lucky loser. <\/span>That\u2019s the highest-ranked player to lose in the final round of qualifying<\/b>. The \u2018Lucky Loser\u2019 takes the spot of the withdrawn player. The entry list has already seen changes, and you never know if more aren\u2019t coming, so always check the latest information before placing any wagers.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Potential Matchups to Watch<\/b><\/h2>\n

    Nothing past the opening round can be listed as a confirmed pairing so early in the tournament. However, here is what the bracket suggests as the most intriguing potential head-to-heads.<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Top Half: Zverev and Djokovic<\/b><\/h3>\n