Carlos Alcaraz followed up his China Open title with a comprehensive opening victory at the Shanghai Masters, beating Juncheng Shang 6-2 6-2.

Alcaraz, the four-time Grand Slam champion, brushed his teenage opponent aside, breaking in the first game of the match to set the tone.

He produced a fine backhand smash as he glided across the net in the fourth game, with the Shanghai crowd on their feet despite their home favourite losing the point.

Alcaraz secured a double break to go up 5-2 with a simple volley put-away, and he served out the set with a serve and forehand one-two.

The Spaniard cupped his ear to receive the acclaim after he produced an exquisite behind-the-back return at 15-15 in the second game of the second set, with Shang looking to get on the front foot and dictate with his looping left-handed forehand, but Alcaraz somehow remained in the rally, winning it with a blistering backhand to his opponent’s forehand, which flew long.

A final Shang return landed beyond the baseline to seal Alcaraz’s place in the third round, where he will face another Chinese player, Wu Yibing.

“I’ve been playing really good tennis lately so I want to just keep going and keep feeling it, keep feeling this good,” Alcaraz said. “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.”

Sinner was back to winning ways in his opening round against Japanese player Taro Daniel.

The Italian came through 6-1 6-4, crashing down 12 aces and winning 84% of points off his first serve.

Sinner, the world No. 1, broke in the fourth game to go up 3-1, before he broke once more to love as he closed in on a comfortable first set.

He served it out in style, needing just one of his two set points.

Sinner threatened another break in the opening game of the second set, but a dogged Daniel kept him at bay to save the sole break point of the game.

The Japanese world No. 93’s resolve would be breached in his next service game, as Sinner converted his second break point to extend his advantage, with the Italian holding off a mini-fightback in the following game to consolidate the break.

Daniel weathered a storm at 3-2, saving four break points as Sinner sought to get the job done early, but Daniel held firm to hold serve and stay within one.

The pair traded holds until Sinner got the chance to serve out the match, which he did with aplomb, taking his first match point to sail into round three, where he will face Tomas Etcheverry, the 31st seed.

Novak Djokovic was forced to work for his place in the third round by the American Alex Michelsen, who pushed the No. 4 seed to two tie-breaks.

Djokovic ran out victorious 7-6(3) 7-6(9), but did not have things all his own way, being broken in his first service game before finding himself 3-0 down inside 10 minutes.

He produced a stirring fightback to haul proceedings back on serve, with his backhand in full flow.

Djokovic notched his first mini-break in the first-set breaker at 3-1, with a cross-court forehand pick-up after a Michelsen drop shot, and he pushed on to take the set thanks to a booming backhand winner.

The second set tie-break was a marathon, which included a sensational no-look half-volley winner from the Serb at 2-2, which stunned Michelsen as it snuck inside the sideline, and prompted Djokovic to conduct the applauding spectators in the stadium with his arms aloft.

Djokovic had to save two set points before he could book his place in the round of 32, and he staved off two Michelsen attacks at 8-7 and 9-8.

He closed out the match with a big serve down the T that Michelsen could only shank high and wide, and the 24-time Grand Slam champion is into round three, to face either Flavio Cobolli, the 28th seed, or Stan Wawrinka.

“It was the first match against Alex and I also hadn’t played in a while, so it took me a little time to get the rust off,” said Djokovic.

“He started off terrifically; big serves and an aggressive style of tennis… he’s not afraid to step it up and take it to his opponent.

“It was a very close encounter and I thought a high level of tennis in both sets. I’m just glad to keep calm when it mattered in the second set tie-break.”