Paris (AFP)

They had dispersed in New York: Daniil Medvedev finalist heroic, Novak Djokovic giving up in the 8th, Roger Federer in the quarters ... here they are again at the Masters 1000 Shanghai (October 6-13) where Rafael Nadal, winner of the US Open and claiming instead to N.1 World, will be absent.

World numbers 1, 3 and 4 will be joined by N.503 who has accepted an invitation. If this fact is noticeable it is that it is about Andy Murray: the British returns to the competition with a prosthesis with the left hip and displays week after week a level of tennis more and more worthy of the where he was World No.1 (2016) and where he formed with Djokovic, Nadal and Federer the "Big 4" of world tennis.

The Scot reached the quarter-finals in Beijing, notably beating Matteo Berrettini, 13th in the world and semifinalist of the last US Open, before selling his skin dearly against Dominic Thiem (5th).

Since Flushing Meadows, the roads of the four best current players have separated.

Medvedev played a tournament at home in Russia where he showed himself worthy of his new status as World No.4 by winning in St. Petersburg.

- Hunting board -

By tackling the penultimate Masters 1000 of the season, he is the player who has won the most matches on the ATP circuit this year (54).

He will start his Chinese career against a qualifier or Gilles Simon (50th), before potentially finding Karen Khachanov (9th) or Murray in the quarterfinals.

Djokovic, injured on the left shoulder, has a time to think that he would be operated and missed the end of the season, but he returned this week in Tokyo where he displayed a form and level of play worthy of great days. He thus compared himself to a "machine" after his victory in 50 minutes against the 24th world Lucas Pouille in the quarterfinals, and a "ninja" after his victory in the semis against David Goffin (15th).

The Serbian side plays Sunday the final in Tokyo for a 76th title, against the 80th Australian world John Millman, before joining Shanghai where he will start defending his title in the second round against Denis Shapovalov (32) or Frances Tiafoe (46).

He has in his quarter table Gael Monfils (11th) and Stefanos Tsitsipas (7th) who qualified for Saturday's final in Beijing beating Alexander Zverev (6th). The latter could face Federer in quarters in Shanghai.

- London in sight -

The Swiss have not played in competition since the US Open, but he played with great spirits in Geneva the Laver Cup. He will face to start in Shanghai Marin Cilic (30th) or Albert Ramos (44th).

Even joy displayed in Geneva by Rafael Nadal ... before the last day he has declared an impasse because of inflammation in his left hand. This injury was perhaps not so trivial since it is the reason for its withdrawal in Shanghai.

His absence is a weight less on the shoulders of Djokovic whose place of N.1 world is threatened by the Spaniard. But, while these last weeks it is the end of season of the Serb who seemed to be annoyed by the wounds, it is finally that of Nadal which is questioned.

Already absent in Shanghai last year, he has no point to defend and can therefore quietly devote to his wedding scheduled on October 19.

In addition, the Shanghai Masters 1000 is expected to settle the fight for qualification at the London Masters (10-17 November). If Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, Medvedev and Thiem are already qualified, there are still three places to go. Tsitsipas is on his way to take the 6th ticket, but the last two will be played.

There are six, from Roberto Bautista to Gael Monfils, separated by 270 points, to claim.

© 2019 AFP