Zverev Upset by Rinderknech in Shanghai Masters Opening Round

SHANGHAI, China — Third-seeded Alexander Zverev was knocked out of the Shanghai Masters on Monday after losing to France’s Arthur Rinderknech, ranked 54th, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in his opening match. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the draw, initially looked strong but struggled to maintain his performance as the match progressed.

After taking the first set, Zverev faltered, allowing Rinderknech to break serve in the second set and twice in the third, wrapping up the match in just over two hours. This defeat marks Rinderknech’s second victory over Zverev in 2025, having previously beaten him in five sets during Wimbledon earlier this year.

“I came into this week knowing how tough the conditions were going to be,” said Alex de Minaur, the seventh seed who won his match against Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak 6-1, 7-5. De Minaur praised the physical demands of the matchup, noting that “there is no such thing as easy matches, especially in these conditions.” He is set to meet Portugal’s Nuno Borges in the next round.

The 30-year-old Rinderknech expressed his surprise at turning the match around after dropping the first set. “I fought like hell, tried everything,” he said. “I was able to be offensive at the right moment, in a smarter way.”

Zverev acknowledged his struggles post-match, stating, “My year has been terrible; I’m just playing terrible tennis all around.” Although he pushed ahead in the beginning, Zverev experienced difficulty maintaining his level, especially in humid conditions that affected both players significantly. He paused during the match to change his shoes, overwhelmed by sweat.

With Zverev’s exit, Novak Djokovic, the tournament’s top-ranked player, advances to the next round and increases his chances of winning a record-extending fifth title in Shanghai. Djokovic will face Spain’s Jaume Munar in the Round of 16.

Meanwhile, Daniil Medvedev, the 2019 Shanghai champion, secured his spot in the next round by defeating Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3, 7-6 (7/5). Medvedev expressed satisfaction with his performance, saying, “I will take it match by match, and I’m happy with the way I play so far.”