Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Shanghai match.
Jannik Sinner, ranked 1st, begins his Shanghai campaign with a match against Taro Daniel, who is ranked 91st. The top-ranked player has had an intense schedule over the past seven days, whereas the Japanese player has had the chance to fully prepare for the tournament following an early exit in Tokyo.
Jannik Sinner
Although Sinner reached the final in Beijing, the tournament was far from straightforward for him. In less than a week, the Italian was involved in three three-set matches, came back twice after being down during matches, and played four tiebreaks. The last time Sinner won decisively and convincingly was at the US Open.
Taro Daniel
For Taro Daniel, the main point of interest is how long he can last on the court, as progressing further isn't the primary concern. It's worth focusing on his performances against top-level opponents. In the past three months, the Japanese tennis player managed to win six games against Casper Ruud on clay — no easy feat — with a score of 5:7, 1:6. He also played competitively against Stefanos Tsitsipas at Wimbledon, ending 6:7, 4:6, 5:7.
Jannik Sinner vs Taro Daniel Prediction
For Daniel to surpass an individual total 5.5, he needs to deliver at least one powerful set. It's unlikely that Sinner will rush things in his opening match, making a tiebreak quite possible. We’re backing the underdog's total.
