Carlos Alcaraz enters the Shanghai Masters with renewed confidence after winning the Japan Open in Tokyo. The World No. 3 says he is mentally fresh and ready for the challenge as he targets a strong finish to the 2026 season.
World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz has said he is mentally fresh and ready to take on the challenge at the Shanghai Masters as he looks to build on his recent Japan Open triumph and finish the 2026 season strongly.
Alcaraz returned to winning ways in Tokyo after spending more than four months away from competitive tennis due to a wrist injury. The Spaniard captured the Japan Open title, an ATP 500 event, and now turns his attention to the Shanghai Masters, the eighth ATP Masters 1000 tournament of the year.
The 23-year-old believes maintaining mental freshness will be crucial as the season enters its closing stages. Speaking at his pre-tournament press conference, Alcaraz stressed that he wants to approach the Shanghai tournament with the right mindset and compete strongly for another major title.
“I’m feeling fresh mentally, which for me is the most important thing,” Alcaraz said, as quoted by ATP. “I’m ready to take the challenge of this tournament.”
Alcaraz acknowledged that this period of the season has not traditionally been his strongest. However, his recent success in Tokyo has given him additional confidence and motivation heading into the Shanghai Masters and the remaining tournaments of the season.
“Right now, I just want to be in a good state for this tournament, because I really want to win the tournaments, this one and the tournaments that I have in a couple months at least one day,” he said.
“So right now, I think it’s an extra boost that I have for the rest of the season,” the Spaniard added.
Alcaraz’s return to competitive tennis began at the US Open 2026. He reached the quarterfinals at the Grand Slam but was unable to defend his title after losing to American Ben Shelton. He subsequently travelled to Tokyo, where he regained his winning momentum by securing his third tour-level title of the year.
Earlier in the season, Alcaraz had won the Australian Open and the Qatar Open in Doha. His Japan Open success therefore marked another important achievement after returning from his lengthy injury layoff.
The Shanghai Masters will provide another test for Alcaraz as he attempts to maintain his rhythm and continue his late-season push. He has received a first-round bye and will begin his campaign in the second round against either Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo or Colombian qualifier Nicolas Mejia.
Despite his status among the leading players on the ATP Tour, Alcaraz has yet to advance beyond the quarterfinal stage in his previous appearances at the Shanghai tournament. He will therefore be looking to improve on that record during this year’s edition.
Alongside his own preparations, Alcaraz also spoke about Holger Rune, who recently returned to the tour following an 11-month injury absence caused by an Achilles injury suffered in October last year.
Alcaraz spent a week training with Rune in Murcia in August and said the Danish player would need patience as he works his way back to his best level.
“It’s a slow process. The injury he had, it’s a really complicated one because I would say the movement in tennis, I would say it’s almost everything,” Alcaraz said.
He noted that movement is particularly important to Rune’s playing style because the Dane relies heavily on his ability to cover the court effectively.
According to Alcaraz, Rune may experience defeats while regaining his competitive rhythm, but returning to matches is an important part of the recovery process.
“He might lose some matches right now, but personally I’m really happy to see him back on court,” Alcaraz said, adding that Rune had trained with him for a week and showed encouraging signs during practice.
Alcaraz also wished Rune well and urged him to remain patient during his comeback. He believes the Danish player can eventually return to the level he wants to reach if he gives himself enough time to regain his rhythm and confidence.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz is hoping to make the most of his own return to full fitness in Shanghai. The Spaniard also praised the atmosphere surrounding the tournament, highlighting the enthusiasm of the local fans and their appreciation for high-quality tennis.
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“I just love it every time that I come here, because I think they appreciate good tennis, the matches, every time that you just walk around, I think it’s great. The people are super into it,” Alcaraz said.
With the Japan Open title behind him, Alcaraz will now aim to carry his momentum into Shanghai. His focus on staying mentally fresh, combined with his renewed confidence after returning from injury, could prove important as he targets a deeper run at the ATP Masters 1000 event and seeks a strong finish to the 2026 season.
