The 38-year-old Spaniard, a 22-time Grand Slam winner, was defeated in the first singles rubber and after Carlos Alcaraz won the second match to send the tie to a doubles decider, the Dutch triumphed to snatch a 2-1 win.

Nadal was beaten 6-4, 6-4 by Botic van de Zandschulp in the opening singles clash, before Alcaraz defeated Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (7/0), 6-3.

In the deciding doubles rubber, Van de Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof secured a 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/3) victory to set up a semi-final clash with Canada or Germany.

After years ravaged by injuries and not having played an official singles match since July, doubts hung over Nadal’s involvement in the tie.

They were resolved when captain David Ferrer confirmed he would play in the first singles rubber of the opening finals clash.

Nadal appeared emotional during the Spanish national anthem, and over 10,000 fans filled the arena with chants of “Rafa, Rafa,” when it ended.

“I was having an emotional day, nerves before what could be my last singles match as a professional,” said Nadal. “The emotions of hearing the national anthem for the last time as a professional were very special.”

Rafael Nadal had won his last 29 Davis Cup singles matches out of 30 played — after debuting in the tournament in 2004.

Despite giving every ounce of his energy in the second set and buoyed by immense home support, Nadal fell short.

“In the beginning, I think we were both nervous… the crowd was tough, understandably,” said Van de Zandschulp. “That is what it is to play against Rafa in Spain — he is probably the biggest sportsman here in Spain that ever lived.”

Given his diminished physical condition Nadal, ranked 154th in the world, attempted to keep points short, with big serves and occasional flashes of his lethal forehand, followed by a classic fist pump and roar.

World number 80 Van de Zandschulp sought to put Nadal on his backhand and the indoor hard-court tournament was far from an ideal surface for the record 14-time Roland Garros winning ‘King of Clay’.

The Dutchman opened up two break points at 4-4 and took the second with a fine cross-court winner to claim the lead, and then converted his second set point to dampen Spanish spirits.

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Rafael Nadal fought back from 0-30 down at the start of the second set but could not convert it into a hold and his opponent secured the first break when the Spaniard went long, consolidating to ramp up the pressure.

Down a set and a break, Nadal, hunting for a foothold, survived heavy pressure on his serve in the third game for a nervy hold that led to the loudest roar of the night.

Van de Zandschulp broke for a second time to take a 4-1 lead but Nadal showed his never-say-die spirit by claiming a break back in the sixth game.

He consolidated, surviving a break point to claim back-to-back games for the first time, as he gave everything in what could prove his final match.

However, in the 10th and final game, Nadal went long to concede match point and then hit a shot into the net to hand his Dutch opponent victory.

“I’m not in the rhythm of competition,” admitted Nadal. “I’ve been self-critical enough with myself to improve, even when I’ve won — today I will not be tough on myself, this was all I had.”

Alcaraz kept Nadal’s dream of a final Davis Cup win alive with a strong performance in the second rubber.

“I did it for Rafa,” admitted the world number three after winning his singles match to force a doubles decider.

Alcaraz won all seven points in a first-set tie-break which ended Griekspoor’s resistance.

The world number 40 was unable to put pressure on Alcaraz’s serve and the Spaniard sealed the straight sets win to love in the ninth game.

He and Granollers came unstuck in the first set of the doubles with 35-year-old Koolhof, also retiring after the Davis Cup, in fine fettle at the net.

Spain took their third break point for a 2-1 lead in the second set to wrestle back in, but the Dutch got back on serve at 4-4 with a Van de Zandschulp cross-court winner.

Another tie-break ensued and the Dutch edged it again to bring the curtain down on Nadal’s career.

READ: Two key members to leave England’s coaching staff

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Nadal, 38, has battled injuries over the past few years and the extent to which he can compete for his country is unknown, but all eyes will be on the 22-time Grand Slam winner.

The veteran led Spain to victory in Madrid five years ago — the last time they won the trophy and Nadal’s fourth.

“First off, we’ll have to see how I feel in training and, if I really don’t feel I have a chance to win the singles, I’ll be the first to not want to play,” Rafael Nadal said at the weekend.

“If I don’t feel ready, I’ll be the first to speak to the captain (David Ferrer). I’ve already told him on a few occasions not to make any decisions based on the fact that it’s my last week as a professional tennis player.”

French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz will be Spain’s leading player and his presence offers Nadal a real chance of retiring on a high note.

“Probably one of the most special tournaments that I’m going to play. Last tournament of Rafa, I’ll be able to be next to him in the last moments on a tennis court for him,” said Alcaraz who played alongside Nadal in doubles at the Olympics in Paris this year.

“I think it’s most important for Rafa, for his last tournament. I really want him to retire with a title. It’s going to be really, really emotional and a really special tournament for me.”

Representing Spain, Nadal also won singles gold at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and triumphed in the doubles at Rio 2016 alongside Marc Lopez.

But former world number one Nadal’s injury setbacks in the twilight of his career have seen his ranking slump to 155.

The last of his 92 career titles came with his 14th French Open and 22nd major at Roland Garros in 2022.

He hasn’t played a competitive singles match since losing to Novak Djokovic at the Paris Olympics in July. In 2023, he played just four times.

Many are hoping for Spain and Alcaraz to meet world number one Jannik Sinner’s Italy, the defending champions, in the final, as the two young stars continue to build on a gripping rivalry.

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Record 32-time champions the United States have selected a strong team spearheaded by US Open finalist Taylor Fritz and are also among the most likely contenders.

Tennis greats and stars from other sports are among those clamouring to watch Nadal’s farewell, with career rivals Djokovic and Roger Federer among those expected to attend.

Spain face the Netherlands on Tuesday in the last eight, with the winner taking on Germany or Canada in the semi-finals.

“It’s amazing that it might be the last match that [Rafael] Nadal plays,” Dutch coach Paul Haarhuis said Sunday. “We hope to give him a nice adios!”

Italy ended a 47-year wait to win the Davis Cup again a year ago as they beat Australia in the final with Sinner as their key player and are favourites to defend their title.

The Australian Open and US Open winner is still waiting for an appeal from the World Anti-Doping Agency against him to be resolved.

Sinner twice tested positive for traces of an anabolic steroid in March but the International Tennis Integrity Agency cleared him of blame in August.

The 23-year-old heads to Malaga buoyed by lifting the ATP Finals title in Turin on Sunday.

Italy face Argentina in the quarter-finals with the winner taking on the United States or Australia.

Captained by Lleyton Hewitt, Australia were runners-up last year and are second only to the US in Davis Cup triumphs, winning the title 28 times.

US star Fritz, runner-up to Sinner at the ATP Finals, is also eager to pay tribute to Nadal.

“When I was a kid, I’d be on the court pretending I’m playing the French Open. He’s had a massive impact on my whole generation because we all grew up on watching him and Roger,” said Fritz who will rise to a career-high four in the world on Monday.

The Davis Cup final takes place next Sunday with all matches held at the indoor hard-court Martin Carpena arena.

READ: Mohammad Rizwan rested as Pakistan unveil Playing XI for third Australia T20I

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Tyson, who terrorised the heavyweight division during an imperious reign in the late 1980s, is lacing up the gloves once more to take on 27-year-old Paul in an officially sanctioned fight at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas.

The fight, which will be comprised of eight two-minute rounds, was initially due to take place in July but was postponed in May after Tyson required medical treatment on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles after vomiting blood due to a bleeding ulcer.

That gory mid-air emergency has provided another piece of ammunition for the numerous critics who have condemned Friday’s contest as a macabre circus act that poses an unacceptable level of risk for Tyson, who last graced a professional ring in 2005 when he was beaten via a technical knockout after quitting on his stool against Irish journeyman Kevin McBride.

“Twenty years ago, Mike Tyson retired from boxing, and was shot to pieces, right? I mean, completely shot,” the prominent British fight promoter Eddie Hearn said this week.

“If anyone thinks that Mike Tyson should be in a ring at this age, you either have absolutely no emotional feelings toward the man, or you’re an idiot. It shouldn’t be happening.”

Hearn’s rival promoter Frank Warren echoed those sentiments. “Mike Tyson is 58 years of age and he shouldn’t be fighting,” Warren said after the bout was announced. “It’s as simple as that.

“Anyone with an ounce of brains knows that it is ridiculous. You can be on a motorway stuck in a traffic jam and you get to the end of it and all it is is people who have stopped to look at a crash — and that’s what this is.”

Tyson, who US reports say is being paid around $20 million for Friday’s contest, has brushed off the concerns for his wellbeing, insisting that critics from the boxing world are motivated by jealousy.

“I’m beautiful, that’s all I can say,” he said earlier this year. “The people who said that wish they were up here. No one else can do this.”

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At an open workout in Texas this week, Tyson declared that a gruelling training camp had left him with the conviction “that I’m tougher than I believed I was.”

“When I agreed to this fight and started training, I thought ‘What was I thinking of?’ But I’ve finished the process. The fight is the party. All the hard work is done.”

At a final press conference in Texas on Wednesday, a stony-faced Tyson pointedly declined to engage in the pre-fight hype.

“I’m just ready to fight,” he said. “I’m looking forward to fighting.”

A global audience of several million watching on Netflix, and tens of thousands inside the AT&T Stadium will be watching on Friday to see whether Tyson’s hard work pays off.

His opponent Jake Paul — who was born six months before Tyson bit off a chunk of Evander Holyfield’s ear in their infamous 1997 rematch — rose to prominence as a Youtuber, before turning his attention to boxing.

Since his first fight against a fellow Youtuber in 2018, Paul’s opponents have included a basketball player, mixed martial arts fighters and other professional boxers. In 11 fights he has won 10 (seven by knockout) and lost one.

“I feel really good, sharp, powerful and explosive. It’s going to be a short night for Mike,” Paul said at Tuesday’s open workout, where he appeared wearing a bizarre head-dress in the form of a rooster.

It goes without saying that a prime, 1980s-era Tyson would almost certainly have dealt with Jake Paul within a few minutes.

Does he retain enough residue of the talent and destructive power that made him the youngest heavyweight champion in history in 1986, at the age of 20 years and four months? Bob Arum, the legendary 92-year-old boxing promoter who has seen it all, is unequivocal.

“The answer is no,” Arum told Secondsout.com last month. “A 58-year-old guy, no matter how good they were, no matter how athletic they were, are not gonna be able to fight.

“You can’t throw punches like you’re supposed to, you can’t do a lot of things. I hope Mike doesn’t get hurt, but I really give him relatively no chance.”

READ: Babar Azam donates his jersey to Usman Khawaja Foundation

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Asif clinched his third IBSF World Snooker Championship 2024 title by defeating Iran’s Ali Gharahgozlou with a score of 5-3 in Doha, Qatar.

Asif has previously won the coveted championship in 2012 and 2019. Moreover, he has also clinched two team titles, which makes him the most decorated cueist in the history of Pakistan with five world titles.

For the unversed, the 42-year-old player made his entrance into the tournament as a qualifier, having received a nomination from the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) to participate as a wild card entrant.

However, he seized the opportunity with remarkable determination, delivering breathtaking performances which earned him qualification for the final against Gharahgozlou.

His extraordinary accomplishment garnered accolades from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who commended Asif for his exceptional efforts that brought honour and pride to the nation.

“Mohammad Asif has made the nation proud by clinching the World Snooker Championship title for the third time,” the prime minister said, according to a PM Office statement. “Asif’s family members and coach also deserve felicitation.”

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Additionally, Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that the government is committed to prioritizing the establishment of top-notch facilities for sportsmen, ensuring they have the resources needed to excel and compete effectively on the global stage.

During the final against Gharahgozlou, Asif dominated the opening frame with a commanding score of 70-25 with an impressive display of skill. However, Gharahgozlou quickly found his rhythm in the second frame, levelling the contest with a resounding victory of 87-7.

Undeterred, Asif regained his momentum in the third frame, showcasing his talent by winning decisively at 82-8.

The Pakistani cueist then delivered a breathtaking performance in the fourth frame, executing a flawless 106 clearance break, which was his sixth-century break of the tournament.

Asif continued to exhibit his prowess in the fifth frame, further solidifying his advantage with a convincing 82-12 win, bringing his lead to a solid 4-1.

Although Gharahgozlou fought back valiantly, claiming victories in both the sixth and seventh frames, Asif proved too strong. He sealed his victory in the eighth frame with a stellar performance, executing a remarkable 93-point break.

READ: Ghazanfar spins Afghanistan to win over Bangladesh in first ODI

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The 42-year-old player made his entrance into the tournament as a qualifier, having received a nomination from the Pakistan Billiards and Snooker Association (PBSA) to participate as a wild card entrant.

He seized the opportunity with remarkable determination, delivering breathtaking performances that captivated audiences throughout the tournament.

Mohammad Asif clinched the coveted IBSF World Snooker Championship 2024 title with a score of 5-3 against Ali Gharahgozlou in the final.

Asif started the match with an impressive display of skill, dominating the opening frame with a commanding score of 70-25. However, Gharahgozlou quickly found his rhythm in the second frame, levelling the contest with a resounding victory of 87-7.

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Undeterred, Asif regained his momentum in the third frame, showcasing his talent by winning decisively at 82-8.

The Pakistani cueist then delivered a breathtaking performance in the fourth frame, executing a flawless 106 clearance break, which was his sixth-century break of the tournament.

Asif continued to exhibit his prowess in the fifth frame, further solidifying his advantage with a convincing 82-12 win, bringing his lead to a solid 4-1.

Although Gharahgozlou fought back valiantly, claiming victories in both the sixth and seventh frames, Asif proved too strong. He sealed his victory in the eighth frame with a stellar performance, executing a remarkable 93-point break.

This is the third individual world title of Mohammad Asif, having previously won championships in 2012 and 2019.

Moreover, he has also clinched two team titles, which makes him the most decorated cueist in the history of Pakistan with five world titles.

READ: Ramiz Raja defends Babar Azam amid criticism after first Australia ODI

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Sinner took a crucial break in the fourth game of the second set to defeat the Serb in 1hr 37min and deny him a 100th career singles title.

“He was just too good today, too strong, too fast,” said Djokovic after the match.

Sinner saluted his opponent as a “legend” who kept playing “incredible tennis… year after year”.

In a nod to former Djokovic rival Roger Federer, who was watching from the stands, the 23-year-old joked: “There are legends everywhere, I just try to keep up a little bit.”

Facing off before an impassioned crowd, neither player blinked in the first set, unable to break the other’s serve.

In the tiebreak Sinner quickly took control, breaking Djokovic’s serve on the first point and going 5-1 up.

The Serb steadied himself but then netted a volley to bring up set point at 6-3. Sinner failed to convert initially but didn’t miss the second time behind serve.

The next key moment came in the fourth game of the second set when Sinner was up 40-15 on Djokovic’s serve.

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Djokovic saved one break point with a fiery ace, but couldn’t stop a superb forehand down the line from Sinner that saw him pull ahead.

All that remained was for the Italian to hold his nerve, hitting an ace to finish the match and claim the title.

Sinner’s triumph caps off a formidable year, in which he has won two Grand Slams and retained the top spot in the rankings since June.

But it is also a year that has seen him embroiled in controversy after he twice tested positive for a banned steroid in March.

In August, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted Sinner’s explanation that the drug entered his system unintentionally when his physiotherapist used a spray containing it to treat a cut, and then provided massage and sports therapy to the player.

But last month the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said it would appeal the decision to clear him of wrongdoing and was seeking a ban of up to two years.

That news came as Sinner was contesting the China Open, where he lost in the final to Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, who was also watching from the stands on Sunday.

He admitted coming into the Shanghai tournament that he was “not in a situation where I feel comfortable in it”.

READ: Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi dropped from Pakistan squad for England Tests

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Novak Djokovic saw off Fritz 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) after Sinner had beaten Tomas Machac 6-4, 7-5, ensuring in the process that he will finish the year at the top of the rankings.

“It feels like destiny to fight for a 100th title here in a place where I’ve had great success in the past, where I have tremendous support,” said four-time Shanghai champion Djokovic.

Only Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) have previously broken through the 100-title barrier in the men’s game.

“I won’t be a favourite on the court, but hopefully I’ll be able to come out physically fresh enough to challenge him for what may be a long match,” added Djokovic of Sunday’s final.

“I have to expect probably the toughest encounter of the tournament, and I have to be ready for it.”

Jannik Sinner said playing Novak Djokovic would make the final “even more special”.

“It’s going to be a very tough one, it’s one of the biggest challenges we have in our sport,” he said.

Djokovic has now beaten the United States’ Fritz at each of their 10 encounters.

The Serb broke the 26-year-old US Open finalist in the fifth game to win the first set in 38 minutes.

But the second set lasted twice as long, and was a much more tense affair, as the players sent each other scrambling across the court in a series of thrilling rallies.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion called it an “incredible fight”.

“He could have easily won the second set… In the tiebreak it was really anyone’s game, (but) I feel like I was never giving up,” Djokovic said.

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In the second set, after an almost 13-minute fifth game eventually held by Fritz, Djokovic bent over in exhaustion, breathing heavily.

The world number seven missed a good chance in the eighth game when he failed to convert a break point, with Djokovic recovering to hold.

“I just never really came up with what I needed to come up with in a lot of big moments and the big points,” said the American.

Novak Djokovic came from 3-5 down in the tiebreak to level and then win after three unforced errors from Fritz.

The 37-year-old, who has been wearing a brace on his right knee and has been having trouble with his left one too, had to take a medical time-out for his left leg towards the end of the second set.

However, he said after the match none of the issues were serious.

After physio, “I could move freely and run and sprint, which is good news”, he said.

“I guess at this age you kind of have to expect that each match something different happens physically.”

The 23-year-old Sinner has been top of the world rankings since June and after his ruthless semi-final victory will stay there until at least the end of the season, the first Italian to do so.

“It was only a dream just to become number one… Now finishing (the year there) is also a different feeling,” the Italian said.

“It’s a good feeling. I’m very happy to achieve this. It was an amazing season for me and it’s not finished yet,” he said, adding that for now he was “focused on tomorrow”.

Sinner’s meeting with Machac got off to an electric start when the Czech broke in the first game of their semi-final.

The 33rd-ranked Machac was looking to repeat his giant-slaying of Thursday, when he knocked out world number two Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets.

But two-time Grand Slam champion Sinner kept his cool to break back in the fourth, then claimed the tenth game to clinch the set.

In the second set neither was able to break serve until the 12th game, when the Italian hit a winner to book his place in Sunday’s final.

“It was very tough… he is playing with so much confidence and he can hit a ball really hard, and is serving very well,” said Sinner.

“I tried to stay there mentally… I’m very happy about how I’m fighting at the moment.”

READ: India smash highest total by a full-member team in T20Is

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“Your tenacity, dedication, fighting spirit is going to be taught for decades. Your legacy will live forever,” 24-time Grand Slam title winner and fellow former world number one Djokovic wrote on Instagram.

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal clashed 60 times in their careers with the Serb edging their rivalry 31-29.

They met for the first time at the French Open in 2006 when Nadal triumphed while Djokovic won their last clash, also on the courts of Roland Garros, at the Paris Olympics this year.

“Rafa, one post is not enough to express the respect I have for you and what you have done for our sport. You have inspired millions of children to start playing tennis and I think that’s probably the greatest achievement anyone can wish for,” added Djokovic of Nadal, a 22-time major winner.

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Rafael Nadal will play his last tournament at the Davis Cup finals in Malaga in November.

“Only you know what you had to endure to become an icon of tennis and sport in general. Thank you for pushing me to the very limit so many times in our rivalry that has impacted me the most as a player,” added Djokovic.

“Your passion for representing Spain has always been remarkable. I wish you the best possible farewell in Malaga with the Davis Cup team of Spain. I will be there in person to pay respect to your stellar career.”

READ: West Indies crush Bangladesh to push for semi-final qualification

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“I am retiring from professional tennis. The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these last two especially,” Nadal said in a video on social media.

“It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make. But in this life, everything has a beginning and an end.”

The 38-year-old Spaniard is set to end his two decades as a professional with 92 titles and prize money alone of $135 million, his status long since secured as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

Nadal has been included alongside Carlos Alcaraz in the Spain team as he bids to sign off with a fifth Davis Cup triumph in Malaga next month.

“I think it’s the appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined,” said Nadal.

“But I am very excited that my last tournament will be the final of the Davis Cup and representing my country.”

“I think I’ve come full circle,” added Nadal, who won the Davis Cup for the first time as a teenager in 2004.

Rafael Nadal dominated the French Open where he won 14 of his majors, his first arriving just days after his 19th birthday in 2005, his last in 2022 briefly making him the event’s oldest champion before the record was eclipsed by Djokovic a year later.

On the famous crushed brick of Roland Garros, he lost just four times in 116 matches.

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He was also a four-time champion at the US Open and a two-time winner at the Australian Open, his first triumph coming in 2009; his second 13 years later.

Nadal also won Wimbledon twice, in 2008 and 2010 even though grass seemed to be the surface most likely to expose any shortcomings in his game.

His five-set victory over Roger Federer in the 2008 championship match, which ended in almost complete darkness at the All England Club, is widely regarded as the greatest Slam final ever played.

Nadal claimed a career Golden Slam when he took Olympic Games gold in 2008.

He was a five-time year-end world number one and never left the top 10 from 2005 until March last year.

In total, he spent 209 weeks in the top spot and between 2004 and 2022, won at least one title every year.

In his long rivalry with close friend Federer, who retired two years ago, he enjoyed a 24-16 edge. Rafael Nadal surpassed Federer’s mark of 20 majors in Australia in 2022.

He and Djokovic, the all-time leader with 24 men’s Grand Slam titles, met 60 times with the Serb just ahead by two.

An underpowered Nadal was swept aside by Djokovic in straight sets in their final meeting at this year’s Paris Olympics.

Nadal has not played since losing in the doubles quarter-finals with Alcaraz a few days later.

Despite his record-breaking career, Nadal was plagued by injuries, a painful by-product of his all-action, brutal-hitting style.

READ: Harry Brook becomes sixth England batter to score triple hundred

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The Serbian beat American Alex Michelsen in a thrilling two-set match that finished 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (11/9).

Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz showed why they were top in the world as they raced through to the next stage with confident straight-set wins.

Sinner dispatched Japan’s Taro Daniel 6-1, 6-4, while Alcaraz made short work of China’s Shang Juncheng, winning 6-2, 6-2.

Four-time Shanghai champion Djokovic did not have it quite so easy against 43rd-ranked Michelsen.

Introduced as the “Greatest Of All Time” as he walked onto the court, he received a rapturous welcome from the packed stadium.

But Michelsen started the first set strongly, breaking Djokovic early and going 1-4 up –- to the displeasure of the crowd, fully behind the 37-year-old former world number one.

To their delight, the Serbian levelled, and then hit his stride in the tiebreak, winning it 7-3.

The reverse happened in the second set when it was 20-year-old Michelsen’s turn to catch up to take it to the tiebreak.

Novak Djokovic admitted to being “surprised” by Michelsen.

“It took me a little bit of time to get the rust off and to start feeling better on the court,” he said.

“I was very glad to keep calm when it mattered in both tiebreaks.”

The crowd, already in a frenzy after Novak Djokovic spoke Mandarin at the end of the match, went wild as he showed off a new trick — attempting a sentence in the Shanghainese vernacular.

World number one Sinner has said he is not in a “comfortable” situation thanks to a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appeal against a decision by tennis authorities to clear him of wrongdoing after he twice tested positive for a steroid in March.

His recent blistering winning streak was broken by Alcaraz in the China Open final on Wednesday.

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But there was no tiredness on display from either player on Saturday, with 23-year-old Sinner looking completely unruffled in the first set against the 93rd-ranked Daniel.

Daniel fell behind again in the second set and despite rallying halfway through to gently test Sinner, the Italian kept his cool, ending the set 6-4.

Sinner will face Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry on Sunday.

“It will be a tough one tomorrow, very physical, because me and Tomas know each other quite well now,” he said.

Earlier, arch-rival Alcaraz also looked comfortable throughout, breaking in the first game, with teenager Shang unable to make much headway against the world number two.

Despite their enthusiasm for Shang, the crowd could not resist Alcaraz’s charm.

At the Spaniard’s encouragement, they broke into loud cheers when he won a particularly exciting rally in which he hit a tricky backwards shot to keep the point alive.

“I just had one practice then was straight into this match, so to be able to show this level in the first match, I’m just really proud,” 21-year-old Alcaraz said after the match.

He will next face another Chinese player, wildcard Wu Yibing.

There were no surprises either for the tournament’s second seed Alexander Zverev, who won 6-4, 6-2 against Italy’s Mattia Bellucci.

“Everything is ok when you win… I was very uncertain of my level before this tournament started,” the German said, referencing recent health problems that saw him miss the China Open.

The tournament lost its second top-ten player on Saturday, as Andrey Rublev fell to 19-year-old Czech Jakub Mensik.

The Russian, a finalist at last year’s Shanghai Masters, roared in jubilation after winning a tiebreaker to take the first set.

But 65th-ranked Mensik broke Rublev in the first game of the second set, and again in the fifth to draw even.

The Czech then came from behind in the third to beat the world number six for the second time this year, with a final score of 6-7 (7/9), 6-4, 6-3.

READ: England edge Bangladesh in Women’s T20 World Cup campaign opener

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