Novak Djokovic is looking increasingly likely to qualify for the ATP Finals after starting his Shanghai Masters campaign with a win as his rivals struggle with form and fitness.

The tennis legend began his run in Shanghai with a 7-6(3), 7-6(9) second round victory against world No 43 Alex Michelsen.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion has admitted that securing a spot at the year-end championships in Turin is not a big priority for him, but he is in  position to qualify

Djokovic, who is playing his first tournament since the US Open, earned 50 ATP Ranking points for reaching the second round in Shanghai.

This has moved Djokovic above Alex de Minaur and into the eighth and final qualification place for the 2024 ATP Finals.

The 37-year-old now has 3,310 points in the live Race to Turin Rankings, putting him five points ahead of de Minaur, who is not playing in Shanghai due to a persistent hip injury he suffered at Wimbledon.

The Australian made his only appearance since Wimbledon at the US Open and his physical issues are hampering his ATP Finals hopes, with his participation at upcoming events in doubt.

Djokovic’s opening win at the ATP Masters 1000 event put him 465 points above Grigor Dimitrov, who sits 10th in the Race on 2,845 points.

Novak Djokovic News.

Dimitrov is competing in Shanghai, but like de Minaur, he has been affected by injuries since Wimbledon — where suffered an abductor tear in his left leg.

The Bulgarian was forced to pull out of the Citi Open in Washington with the issue and was also derailed by injury at the US Open and the Laver Cup, before he withdrew from the China Open

Below Dimitrov in the Race are Tommy Paul, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Hubert Hurkacz, who are 11th, 12th and 13th respectively.

Djokovic is 475 points clear of Paul, 525 ahead of Tsitsipas and 630 above Hurkacz, all of which are healthy leads at this stage of the season.

Paul and Tsitsipas are playing in Shanghai, while Hurkacz is out of action due to the knee injury he sustained at Wimbledon.

Djokovic looks more likely to move further up the Race Rankings than drop out of the top eight, with Andrey Rublev and Casper Ruud — who both suffered opening round exits in Shanghai — in his sights.

Ruud is 495 points ahead of Djokovic in sixth, while Rublev is 270 clear in seventh, and the Serbian could surpass them both — or at least make up significant ground — with a deep run in Shanghai.

Djokovic has also entered the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Paris, which will begin on October 28, which only improves his ATP Finals qualification hopes.

The world No 4 is the defending champion at both the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals in Turin. He will try to defend a sizable 2,300 points across the two events, which could have a significant impact on his ATP ranking heading into 2025.

Live ATP Race to Turin Rankings

1. Jannik Sinner – 9,380 points
2. Carlos Alcaraz – 6,560
3. Alexander Zverev – 6,165
4. Daniil Medvedev – 4,670
5. Taylor Fritz – 3,900
6. Casper Ruud – 3,805
7. Andrey Rublev – 3,580
8. Novak Djokovic – 3,310

Alternates:
9. Alex de Minaur – 3,305
10. Grigor Dimitrov – 2,845