They now face a quick turnaround as they prepare for the Shanghai Masters, where they could meet again in the semi-finals.

When do Alcaraz and Sinner play in Shanghai? When does Novak Djokovic start his campaign? And who they are facing in their opening matches?

It was initially thought that Alcaraz and Sinner would be playing on Friday at the Shanghai Masters.

That would put just 48 hours between the China Open final and their opener in Shanghai.

However, instead, their first matches have been scheduled for Saturday, October 5.

Alcaraz will open against home hope Shang Juncheng, who became only the second player from China to win an ATP Tour singles title last month.

Sinner starts against Japanese player Taro Daniel.

Djokovic will also be starting his Shanghai Masters campaign on Saturday, facing either Alex Michelsen or Yunchaokete Bu.

Djokovic will be returning to Shanghai for the first time since 2019.

Shanghai Masters 2024 singles schedule:

*Play starts at 5.30am UK time unless stated

• October 2: First round
• October 3: First round
• October 4: First round and second round
• October 5: Second round
• October 6: Third round
• October 7: Third round
• October 8: Fourth round
• October 9: Fourth round
• October 10: Quarter-finals
• October 11: Quarter-finals
• October 12: Semi-finals (play starts 7am UK time)
• October 13: Final and doubles final (play starts 7am UK time)

After winning a gruelling China Open final, it was straight to the airport and onto a plane to Shanghai for Alcaraz.

The four-time Grand Slam winner has been critical in the past of the busy schedule on the ATP Tour and admits “everything was a rush” as he travelled to Shanghai.

“I said so many times, the tennis schedule is so tight, but we have to get used to it,” he said.

“Yesterday, we finished 8:30, 9:00, three-hour match, and then I had no time to do anything else. I just went to the club before the final with all the bags, because I knew that we had to run after the finals to take the flight to come here.

“We arrive at 4:00am, just to be ready or just to have some sleep here in Shanghai, and woke up here in Shanghai to get used to the conditions here and try to be ready for my first match.

“The tennis schedule is so, so tight. We are travelling, you know, from tournament to tournament, with just one or two days before the tournament begins, so it is difficult, but we have to get used to it.”