German star Daniel Altmaier is gearing up to challenge defending champion Jannik Sinner in a highly anticipated clash at the Rolex Shanghai Masters 2025. Renowned for upsetting top names, Altmaier believes his versatile style and sharp tactics give him a real shot at another breakthrough win.
The 27-year-old stunned Sinner at Roland Garros 2023 and stretched him to five sets at the US Open 2022. For Altmaier, such results aren’t isolated surprises but evidence of how he approaches big matches.
“I see myself that I can play tennis well against everyone on Tour. So that’s why I feel like I’m dangerous against those [top] guys,” Altmaier, the No. 49 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, told ATPTour.com in Shanghai. “I find my tactic, the way to play, the way to hurt people on the top level. So that’s where I’m also aiming to play constantly. I think that’s the thing: I can adapt my game, I can see the weaknesses and other opponents. That’s also what you play for.”
Big Match Temperament and Top-10 Victories
Altmaier’s 2025 season highlights prove he thrives under pressure. He knocked out Taylor Fritz in the opening round of Roland Garros — his fifth career win over a Top 10 player — and later produced a five-set thriller to eliminate former World No. 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas at the US Open.
“I really love these challenges, that’s what I play for,” said Altmaier, who is 1-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Sinner. “I played some brilliant matches this year already. Taylor Fritz, last week [Denis] Shapovalov… I put them all there [at the top] when they have a great day. They are really elite, they are the best players. I think that’s what I really look forward to and I think it’s going to be an exciting match.”
A major strength in Altmaier’s game is his one-handed backhand, which mixes precision with power. That shot could prove pivotal in unsettling Sinner’s rhythm and limiting his aggressive inside-out forehands.
“I think he has the ability to also adjust his game,” Altmaier said of Sinner. “And well that’s one of the elements of my game… I have several different ones. I’m working a lot on the variety on the backhand side.
“I have the slice, I have the backhand that I can play flat, the one I can play a little bit more with topspin, I can switch direction. I think that one-handers do actually have a little bit more variety than two-handed backhands.”
Building Momentum Ahead of the Showdown
After dispatching qualifier Tristan Schoolkate in straight sets in his Shanghai opener, Altmaier improved his 2025 record to 17-23. The win marked a positive turnaround just weeks after a leg injury forced him to withdraw from his third-round match against Alex de Minaur at the US Open.
“Tokyo was my first tournament back after my little injury after the US Open, so I’m happy to have a two-set victory here playing some very good tennis,” Altmaier said. “I’m happy about the consistency I was getting recently. There were a lot of challenges throughout the season. The season is long and I’m getting to learn a lot from this year which is a crucial part in my career.”
Armed with confidence, recent form, and a proven history of troubling top players, Daniel Altmaier is ready to put Jannik Sinner to the test once more. Their clash at the Rolex Shanghai Masters 2025 promises to be one of the most intriguing battles of the tournament.
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