Carlos Alcaraz will kick off his campaign in Shanghai on Saturday when he will face Gregoire Barrere in the opening match. However, the local crowd had already had the luxury of seeing the Spanish sensation in action during one of his training sessions. Carlitos was practicing his drop shots, and when he managed to put a ball in a tiny basket, the local crowd exploded.
Here is the video.
Carlos Alcaraz in 2023
Now ranked no.2, the Spaniard played his last match on the 3rd of October when he capitulated to world no.4 Jannik Sinner 7-6(4) 6-1 in the semifinal in Beijing (draw).
This season Carlos has achieved a compiled 61-8 record. Carlos clinched 6 titles in 2023 in Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona, Madrid, London and Wimbledon. The Spaniard reached the final in Rio de Janeiro and Cincinnati.
Barrere in Shanghai, ranking, and results in 2023
Currently ranked no.73, Barrere achieved a compiled 32-27 win-loss record in 2023. Gregoire is participating in Shanghai where he managed to beat the world no.85 Nuno Borges 6-2 6-2.
Gregoire Barrere will play the world no.2 Carlos Alcaraz in the 2nd round on Saturday at 6:30 pm on STADIUM COURT. In the past, they have never played each other until now in top events.
Gregoire has won 1 title in 2023 in the Quimper Challenger.
Barrere will play next in Antwerp (European Open). He will start to play the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 16th of October.
Carlos Alcaraz and Gregoire Barrere have never faced off.