What Is 2008 Shanghai ATP Masters 1000

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2008 Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 was a men's tennis tournament held from October 12–19, 2008, at the Qizhong Forest Sports Center in Shanghai, China. Nikolay Davydenko defeated Rafael Nadal in the final to claim his first Masters title.

Key Facts

Tournament dates: October 12–19, 2008
Location: Qizhong Forest Sports Center, Shanghai, China
Surface: Outdoor hard courts
Champion: Nikolay Davydenko (defeated Rafael Nadal 6–3, 6–4 in the final)
This was the inaugural edition of the Shanghai Masters as a year-end ATP Masters 1000 event

Overview

The 2008 Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 marked the first year the tournament was elevated to a full ATP Masters 1000 status, replacing the Madrid Masters in the fall calendar. Held from October 12 to 19, it was part of the elite nine-tournament series on the ATP Tour, attracting nearly all of the world’s top-ranked players.

Hosted at the Qizhong Forest Sports Center, the event featured a 56-player singles draw and a 24-team doubles draw, with a total prize money pool of $3,450,000. As the first Masters 1000 event held in Asia, it represented a strategic expansion of the ATP Tour into emerging tennis markets.

First edition as Masters 1000: The 2008 tournament was the inaugural year of the Shanghai Masters at the highest tier, following a rotation change approved by the ATP in 2007.
Champion performance: Nikolay Davydenko won the title without dropping a set, defeating Rafael Nadal 6–3, 6–4 in the final to claim his first Masters 1000 crown.
Top seed: Rafael Nadal entered as the top seed but was unable to defend his title from the previous year’s Madrid event, losing in the final.
Attendance: Over 115,000 fans attended the week-long event, setting a record for tennis attendance in China at the time.
Indoor retractable roof: The Qizhong Stadium featured a distinctive eight-petal retractable roof, allowing play to continue during inclement weather.

How It Works

The ATP Masters 1000 format governs the structure, points distribution, and player participation rules for elite men’s tennis tournaments like the 2008 Shanghai event. These events are mandatory for top-ranked players unless injured, ensuring strong fields and high-level competition.

Draw Size: The singles draw included 56 players, with 32 receiving direct entry based on rankings and the rest qualifying or receiving wild cards.
Points System: The champion earned 1,000 ATP ranking points, critical for year-end standings and qualification for the ATP Finals.
Prize Money: With a total purse of $3.45 million, the winner received $527,000, one of the largest payouts outside Grand Slams.
Player Obligations: Players ranked in the Top 30 were required to participate unless medically excused, ensuring a deep and competitive field.
Qualifying Rounds: A 28-player qualifying draw fed into the main event, giving lower-ranked players a chance to earn points and prize money.
Seeding: Seeding was based on the ATP rankings released the week prior, with eight seeds receiving first-round byes.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 2008 Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 with other key tournaments in the 2008 ATP season:

Tournament	Location	Surface	Champion	Prize Money
Shanghai Masters 1000	Shanghai, China	Hard (outdoor)	Nikolay Davydenko	$3.45M
Indian Wells	California, USA	Hard	Roger Federer	$3.34M
Miami Open	Florida, USA	Hard	Nikolay Davydenko	$3.45M
Madrid Masters	Madrid, Spain	Indoor hard	Rafael Nadal	$3.45M
ATP Finals	London, UK	Hard (indoor)	Novak Djokovic	$5.85M

The 2008 Shanghai Masters stood out for being the first Masters 1000 held in Asia, contributing to the ATP’s global outreach. While prize money matched other Masters events, its timing in October made it a crucial stop for players vying for year-end rankings and ATP Finals qualification.

Why It Matters

The 2008 Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 had lasting implications for tennis’s global development and player careers. It signaled the ATP’s commitment to expanding the sport’s footprint beyond traditional strongholds in Europe and North America.

Historic milestone: It was the first Masters 1000 event held in Asia, marking a pivotal moment in the globalization of men’s professional tennis.
Boost for Chinese tennis: The tournament elevated interest in tennis across China, inspiring future generations and increasing youth participation.
Player legacy: Davydenko’s win solidified his status as a top-tier player, helping him qualify for the year-end ATP Finals.
Economic impact: The event generated an estimated $28 million in economic activity for Shanghai, including tourism and media exposure.
Infrastructure legacy: The Qizhong Stadium became a model for future tennis venues in Asia, combining aesthetics with functionality.
Media reach: Broadcast in over 120 countries, the tournament reached an estimated 200 million viewers worldwide.

The success of the 2008 event ensured Shanghai’s place on the ATP calendar for years to come, paving the way for future international expansion of the sport.