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A while back, at the end of last month we had a look at the Players with the most titles at the Shanghai Masters. Only 2 of the players from that list are playing in the 2018 edition of the only masters tournament in China, with Andy Murray pulling out from the rest of the season. As the event begins today we are gonna look at the players to watch out for. If we listed them like usual, it definitely will have Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic among other top flight players and top seeds. With the former winning the title twice and the latter thrice it really is a no brainer. But today we are going to take the road less taken, listing the underdogs who catch the eye. Here are the top 5 unseeded players to watch out for in this year's Shanghai Rolex Masters in no particular order:
5. Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO)
The flamboyant Georgian, with an equally flamboyant name won his maiden ATP title at Hamburg just 2 months ago. What struck the eye apart from his playing style is his calm demeanor. He won the final in the decider after losing the previous set 0-6. It had taken him a tough 10 years since he turned pro to get off the mark and gain a bit of attention.
Basilashvili has had a good record in ATP 500 events but has failed to transition those performances into the Masters. He has played four 500 tournaments winning 9 out of 11 matches but has lost 4 out of 6 matches in the masters. But this time he is ranked his highest ever going into an ATP 1000 event and it's the first time he's qualified into such events directly. So, this will be Nikoloz Basilashvili's best chance to put in a better performance, and I reckon he will.
4.Gael Monfils (FRA)
Gael Monfils has always had an unorthodox style of play to say the least. From no look drop shots to the dives and jumping returnd of smashes, he has a huge array of such shots. He prefers the hard court with a win percentage of 65.2, which is 4% more than in any other suface.
The Frenchman with a carribean flare in his tennis has won 6 out of his 7 ATP titles in hard courts. His best performance in the Shanghai Masters came in 2013 when he reached the quarters, beating Roger Federer along the way! He last played there 2 years ago and exited the tournament in the Round of 16.
With quite a few injuries after reaching his best rank of No.6 in 2016 and a couple of dips in form Monfils has slided to No.39. He is a player who is on an other level when he's got a point to prove. So watch out for Gael Monfils providing his injuries stay away.
3. Nick Kyrgios (AUS)
Another unorthodox player in our countdown, Kyrgios has an attitude of his own at the court. His most famous shot is the forehand in between his legs, or is it a backhand? Considered as the funniest player on court by many of his counterparts, he is definitely one to watch out for.
The man nicknamed "Wild Thing" loves both the grass and hard courts, having a better win percentage than his career average. But, all his 4 ATP titles have come in the hard courts.
Kyrgios doesn't have a great record at the Shanghai Masters, exiting in the first round last year. His last tournament was the Japan Open where he didn't look too fit, exiting a few days back. He hasn't played all tournaments this year due to recurring hip injuries. Will they hamper him or can Nick Kyrgios pull out his usual bag of tricks? You'll know the answer in a couple of days time.
2. Richard Gasquet (FRA)
Richard Gasquet is the most elegant player in our countdown today. He has also got the most ATP titles in the list winning 15 of them. Even though his favoured suface is grass(by 5%) he has won 8 of his titles in the hard courts.
Gasquet possesses one of the most beautiful single handed backhands in the game, probably second to only Federer. Although not being the tallest of players, his game revolves around his serve as it is very accurate.
In the Frenchman's most recent tournament, the Japan Open, he had beaten Kevin Anderson in the quarters before exiting in the semis yesterday. Before that he reached the 3rd Round of the US Open where Djokovic beat him, and then got to the quarters of the Metz.
Coming into the Shanghai Rolex Masters off such a decent run this year, Richard Gasquet is well equipped to better his quarterfinal exit in the tournament's 2017 edition.
1. Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP)
Bautista Agut doesn't have a special shot or a great playing style, but he's still effective. He is the only one in our list who has reached the Final of the Shanghai Masters before. His last 2 appearances were a semi final exit in the St. Petersburg Open and a 2nd round exit in the China Open.
The Spainard has a 62.8% win percentage in the Hard court surface, where he has won 6 out of his 8 ATP Titles. The most significant title out of those is the Dubai duty free championships. His career highlight Grand Slam performance also came in the same surface when he defeated del Potro in the Australian Open in 2014.
Having reached the final of the Shanghai Masters in 2016 he was knocked out in the first round last year. But this year Roberto Bautista Agut, with more experience behind him can return to winning ways in the tournament.
