Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is one of the favourites for the Shanghai Masters title this week and he begins his quest against Kei Nishikori.
Tsonga is in red hot form right now, having picked up the Metz title last month and he looked dead set to win the China Open last week before going down to an inspired Tomas Berdych in the last four.
Tsonga's back in the top ten at world number eight and he looks set to qualify for the ATP World Finals once more. A good showing this week and at the Paris Masters will seal his place.
This is a tricky opener for him as Nishikori has bundles of talent and with his injuries behind him and Brad Gilbert as a new coach, he could be set for some big things over the next few years. He did well to beat the equally dangerous Robin Haase in round one, edging an epic match 0-6, 7-5, 7-6(6). Nishikori reached the Malaysian Open semis a couple of weeks ago but he will feel a little hard done by with his draws recently, getting David Ferrer in the first round of the China Open last week and Tsonga so early in Shanghai.
Prediction: Tsonga in two.
