Top-seeded Alexander Zverev navigated a challenging path to the third round of the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters on Sunday. The US Open champion overcame a slip-up in the second-set tiebreaker to defeat Quentin Halys 6-4, 6-7 (8), 6-3. Zverev, who avoided surrendering a single break-point opportunity throughout the match, ultimately secured his 60th tour victory of the season. Saved both, then clinched the set with an overhead volley winner at the net, twice Halys faced match point while serving in the tiebreaker. In the round of 16, Zverev will play Alexander Bublik, who rallied to beat Brandon Nakashima 6-7 (7), 6-3, 7-6 (5). Having struggled with form and fitness after elbow surgery in 2025, the former world number four and current Olympic champion was a wildcard entry in Beijing. Sending down an ace to take the first set, zheng saved three set points to level at 5-5 and won every single point after that.
The victory was Zverev’s fourth career win over the 48th-ranked Frenchman. Despite failing to convert two match points in the second set, the German regained momentum by breaking Halys in the opening game of the decider. Zverev is now set to face Alexander Bublik, who advanced after a comeback victory against Brandon Nakashima.
The tournament saw other significant upsets as third-seeded Ben Shelton was knocked out by 21-year-old French player Arthur Gea. Gea claimed the victory 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3) by converting his first match-point opportunity. Meanwhile, seventh-seeded Francis Tiafoe suffered a narrow defeat to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who triumphed 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (6) after surviving a match point in the final tiebreaker.
In other matches, Alex de Minaur beat Rei Sakamoto 7-6 (6), 6-4, and Karen Khachanov eliminated Adrian Mannarino with a 6-2, 6-4 victory. These results occur as the tournament continues without top-ranked Jannik Sinner, who withdrew earlier this week due to a right knee injury that will keep him sidelined for the remainder of 2026. 1-ranked Jannik Sinner withdrew from Shanghai this week when he announced he was taking the rest of 2026 off because of a right knee injury. 1 for the first time and found himself playing an extra set Sunday.
Across the country, Zheng Qinwen achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Chinese player to win the China Open since its 2004 inception. The 24-year-old secured a 7-5, 6-4 victory over 19-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva in Sunday’s final. Andreeva, ranked five, was more consistent to start with, but Zheng grabbed back a break and stayed with her 19-year-old opponent as they battled on the baseline.
Reflecting on the achievement during the trophy ceremony, Zheng expressed the deep significance of her win. “The feeling was incredible to win here in Beijing… in front of my home crowd is one of my dreams,” she stated. Addressing her difficult journey, she added, “I’ve been through a very, very tough year.” And tears filled her eyes as she fell to the court in celebration, it was the 54th-ranked Zheng’s first title in nearly two years.
