Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic handed tough Shanghai Masters draw - full routes to final
ROGER FEDERER and Novak Djokovic learned their Shanghai Masters fate this morning as the star-studded draw was made.
Federer is out to defend his title in Shanghai as he, along with Djokovic, will play for the first time since their Laver Cup success a fortnight ago.
Djokovic is the early favourite to win the tournament because of his recent success at Wimbledon, Cincinnati Masters and US Open.
He also has the chance to close the gap to world No 1 Rafael Nadal to 215 points if he can add another trophy to his collection.
However, Federer will be putting up a stern defence of his crown, especially after dipping in from over the last six months.
The top eight seeds have all been handed an opening-round bye so they will miss the first two days of action.
Federer has been handed a tough path to the final as a prospective third-round clash with former world No 3 Milos Raonic awaits. Juan Martin del Porto is also in the same half.
Djokovic could face his Australian Open or French Open conquerer in round three as Hyeon Chung and Marco Cecchinato lurk in the early rounds.
A repeat of the Wimbledon final vs Kevin Anderson is a potential quarter-final tie, with Alexander Zverev is also in the same half.
Roger Federer projected route to final
R1: Bye
R2: Medvedev / Zhang
R3: Raonic
QF: Schwartzman / Nishikori / Querrey
SF: Del Potro
F: Djokovic / Anderson
Novak Djokovic projected route to final
R1: Bye
R2: Chardy / Marterer
R3: Cecchinato / Chung
QF: Anderson
SF: Zverev
F: Federer / Del Potro
Djokovic says playing with Federer has been a ‘tennis dream’
Projected last 16 ties by seeding
Federer v Raonic
Schwartzman v Nishikori
Del Potro v Coric
Sock v Thiem
Cilic v Edmund
Carreño v Zverev
Anderson v Tsitsipas
Djokovic v Cecchinato