The ATP Masters 1000 event in Shanghai is heating up as players vie for crucial early-round victories. Among the exciting matchups is the clash between Benjamin Bonzi and Gabriel Diallo, set for October 3, 2025, at 06:30 CEST. This match marks their first encounter on tour. Bonzi, who has chalked up three wins in his last five matches, faced an unfortunate setback last week in Beijing, losing to Marozsan in straight sets. In contrast, he bounced back in Shanghai with a decisive victory over Opelka in the opening round.
Diallo, on the other hand, has experienced difficulties of late, losing three of his last five matches. He suffered a close first-round exit against Fritz during last week’s tournament in Tokyo and has similar memories from last season in Shanghai, where he fell to Davidovich Fokina in the opening round as well. Against the backdrop of their contrasting recent performances, Bonzi enters the matchup as a slight underdog, but his experience at the Masters 1000 level could prove beneficial. A promising bet in this matchup is Bonzi covering the games handicap, currently available at +2.5 games @1.91 on Bet365.
Another intriguing match on the same day features Ben Shelton taking on David Goffin. Shelton has won three of his last five matches, with his most recent performance at the US Open ending prematurely due to retirement against Mannarino. This marks Shelton’s return to Shanghai, where he lost to Sinner in the fourth round last season. Goffin, also with a record of three wins out of five, qualified for the main draw but fell to Rinderknech in three close sets last week in Beijing. This week, he secured a hard-fought victory over Muller in the opening round.
Despite being viewed as the underdog by bookmakers, Goffin’s recent form suggests he could outpace Shelton, who has been inactive in competitive matches for over a month. Goffin’s strong performance earlier this season against Shelton in Acapulco bodes well for his chances. A worthwhile bet could see Goffin covering the games handicap at +3.5, offering odds at @1.83 on Bet365.
Finally, the match between Frances Tiafoe and Yannick Hanfmann also promises to deliver thrills. Tiafoe is struggling, having lost four consecutive matches, including a tight opening round defeat to Fucsovics in Tokyo. Conversely, Hanfmann has found form, winning four of his last five outings while showing prowess in Shanghai by overcoming both Mochizuki and Kubler in qualifying before defeating Sonego in the first round of the main draw.
While Tiafoe is favored by the bookmakers, Hanfmann has been impressive, and with a solid serving game, he could very well challenge Tiafoe’s current slump. The suggested bet here is Hanfmann covering the games handicap at +2.5, with odds at @2.00 on Bet365.
As the tournament unfolds, fans are in for a thrilling display of tennis as these players battle for their spots in the next rounds.