Yi Zhou vs Lorenzo Musetti Prediction Shanghai Rolex Masters - Shanghai · Oct 9, 2026

Analysis

Lorenzo Musetti arrives as the clear class act in this second-round meeting, and his last two outings were straight-sets wins over Arthur Fery without the loss of a single set. Yi Zhou does carry something into the match that pure form charts miss: he came through a three-set win over Mattia Bellucci on 7 October, so he has already found his range on these Shanghai courts and will have the crowd fully behind him. The caution for backers of the Chinese player is the rest of his recent run, which produced straight-sets defeats to Pablo Carreno-Busta and two to Juan Manuel Cerundolo, a sign that the level dips once an opponent takes control of the baseline exchanges. Musetti's variety - the one-handed backhand, the slice, the ability to change height and tempo - travels well to a medium-paced indoor-style hard court, and his heavier ball should give him the first strike in most rallies. Zhou's best path is to serve well early, shorten points and ride the Shanghai atmosphere into a tiebreak, which is exactly where an upset would start. The most likely outcome, though, is a controlled two-set win for the Italian.