By Tennis today is centered on the Asian swing, with the Rolex Shanghai Masters and China Open providing the biggest attractions on Thursday, October 8, 2026. The ATP Masters 1000 event in Shanghai is moving through its opening rounds, while the WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing has reached the quarterfinal stage. For fans following the global tennis calendar, there is plenty of action across both tours as players compete for ranking points and momentum during one of the busiest periods of the season.
Shanghai Masters takes center stage
The biggest men’s event today is the Rolex Shanghai Masters. The tournament features a long list of ATP players competing in the opening rounds, with several well-known names scheduled to take the court.
Among the matches attracting attention are Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Kimmer Coppejans, Hubert Hurkacz vs James Duckworth, Cameron Norrie vs Dalibor Svrcina, Bernard Tomic vs Matteo Arnaldi and Mariano Navone vs Pablo Carreno Busta. Other scheduled matches include Jenson Brooksby against Jaume Munar and Tallon Griekspoor against Pavel Kotov.
Tsitsipas is particularly interesting after his recent run in Tokyo. The Greek star reached the round of 16 there before losing to Valentin Vacherot in a three-set battle. His appearance in Shanghai gives him another opportunity to build momentum during the Asian swing.
Shanghai is one of the most important tournaments remaining before the end-of-season ATP events. Strong performances here can be especially valuable for players chasing ranking positions and qualification opportunities.
China Open reaches the quarterfinals
The women’s action in Beijing has reached a crucial stage. Two singles quarterfinals scheduled for today feature Ekaterina Alexandrova against Mirra Andreeva and Karolina Muchova against Nikola Bartunkova.
Andreeva’s match is one of the most intriguing fixtures of the day. The young Russian has continued to establish herself among the leading players on the WTA Tour, and a deep run in Beijing would provide another significant result during the Asian swing.
The other quarterfinal brings Muchova back into the spotlight. When healthy and in rhythm, the Czech player possesses one of the most versatile games on tour, making her a dangerous opponent in a tournament environment where every round becomes increasingly difficult.
Coco Gauff exits Beijing
One of the major stories from the China Open is the elimination of Coco Gauff. The American third seed was beaten 6–3, 6–3 by Elise Mertens in the last 16. Gauff struggled with her consistency, producing 34 unforced errors and eight double faults during the 78-minute match.
Gauff subsequently announced that she would withdraw from the Wuhan Open, where she was the defending champion. She said the demanding stretch of the season had left her needing time to rest and recover. The decision means another major name will be absent from Wuhan, following world No. 1 Elena Rybakina’s withdrawal because of a foot injury.
Gauff’s departure also highlights the physical and mental demands of the late-season calendar. Players are competing week after week across different countries, surfaces and time zones, making recovery increasingly important as the season approaches its final stages.
What to watch today
For men’s tennis, Shanghai offers the largest collection of high-level matches, with established players and rising competitors battling through the early rounds. Fans should pay particular attention to Tsitsipas, Hurkacz, Norrie and Arnaldi as they begin or continue their campaigns.
On the women’s side, the Beijing quarterfinals provide the main attraction. With only eight singles players remaining, every match carries much greater importance. A strong performance today could put a player within one victory of the final stages and potentially a major ranking boost.
The bigger picture
The Asian swing is an important part of the tennis calendar because players are competing for ranking points while also managing fatigue late in the season. The results in Shanghai and Beijing will help shape the final weeks of 2026, including the race for prestigious end-of-year events.
For fans searching for tennis today, Thursday offers a strong combination of established stars, emerging talent and important late-season storylines. Shanghai provides the depth of a Masters 1000 field, while Beijing delivers the drama of a WTA 1000 tournament approaching its decisive rounds.
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