Tennis essentials, 10 October: Alcaraz and Fils through in Shanghai, Medvedev’s disqualification still debated, the UN backs Gauff

Carlos Alcaraz needed 65 minutes to see off Juan Manuel Cerundolo in Shanghai, Arthur Fils was just as brisk, and the day kept one debate alive: Daniil Medvedev’s disqualification in Beijing. The pick of the weekend comes tomorrow, with a first top-10 opponent for Arthur Gea.

Alcaraz cruises, the moustache stays

Carlos Alcaraz beat Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-3, 6-3 in 65 minutes on his entry at the second round, a seventh straight win since his Tokyo title. Speaking on court, the Spaniard praised the conditions: “The conditions here are really special.” Our piece has the moustache, kept from the team dare struck before Tokyo.

Fils stacks up Masters 1000 wins

Arthur Fils saw off Pavel Kotov 6-3, 6-4 without argument on his entry to the tournament, L’Équipe reports. The world No. 10 now counts 21 wins in 26 Masters 1000 matches this season; only Jannik Sinner (29) does better. The third round will hand him Alex Michelsen or Botic van de Zandschulp.

Tsitsipas rolls on, Fritz waits

Stefanos Tsitsipas beat the 21st-ranked Luciano Darderi 6-3, 6-4, his tenth win in his last twelve matches, and meets Taylor Fritz in the third round, We Love Tennis writes. Since he replaced his father with Patrick Mouratoglou at the head of his coaching set-up, the Greek, ranked 43rd, has no points left to defend this season. The Fritz test will say where the renaissance stands.

Vacherot holds his ground

Valentin Vacherot did not wobble on the scene of his exploit: the Monégasque defending champion beat Sebastian Baez 6-4, 7-6 (5) on his return to the second round, a year on from his surprise title, says L’Équipe.

Medvedev and Djokovic: the sanction still under debate

Daniil Medvedev’s disqualification against Novak Djokovic, in the Beijing ATP 500 semi-final, keeps drawing comment. “He shouldn’t lose his points or his money. It’s aberrant,” says Steve Johnson, co-host of the Nothing Major podcast, who finds the sanction far too heavy, on We Love Tennis. Djokovic went on to take the Beijing title and fell straight away in Shanghai: Hubert Hurkacz beat him on Friday in the second round, at the seventh attempt, pitying a Serb visibly tired after his title.

In Beijing, the UN backs Gauff

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights denounced on Saturday, on X, the racist insults aimed at Coco Gauff after her third round at the WTA 1000 in Beijing, L’Équipe reports. Tomorrow’s final will set Mirra Andreeva, 19, who swept the Czech Nikola Bartunkova 6-2, 6-2, against Zheng Qinwen, the 2024 Olympic champion and a 7-5, 6-2 winner over Elise Mertens.

Gea meets his first top 10 tomorrow

After a summer full of promise, Arthur Gea will take on Ben Shelton, the world No. 4, in the Shanghai third round: the 21-year-old Frenchman, ranked 56th, faces a top-10 player for the first time, from 6am French time, L’Équipe announces.