Rafael Nadal is hopeful his run in Beijing will help him into the ATP World Tour Finals, but he can take a huge step at the Shanghai Masters.

The Spaniard suffered a surprise quarter-final loss to Grigor Dimitrov at the China Open, leaving his place at the season-ending tournament in some doubt.

Nadal is eighth in the Race to London, with Tomas Berdych, Marin Cilic and David Goffin among those chasing him.

The ATP 1000 event in Shanghai shapes as a huge chance for the 14-time grand-slam champion to close in on booking his spot.

"From Beijing, 90 points. That's something that is not a big thing, but is something that maybe can help for the World Tour Finals," Nadal said.

Seeded fourth, Nadal has been drawn in the same quarter as Cilic - with Novak Djokovic and Berdych in their half.

World number two Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Gael Monfils and Milos Raonic are the top-ranked players on the other side.

Nadal, the 2009 runner-up in Shanghai, said he had work to do on his game after losing to Dimitrov.

"I fought until the last ball, but was going against psychologically bad feelings because I was suffering with my serve," he said.

"When that happens, you have to go to the next tournament because you don't deserve to win like this."

Djokovic is a three-time champion in Shanghai, including last year, and makes his return from an elbow injury.