Alexander Zverev is through to the Shanghai Masters quarter-finals after beating Alexander Bublik 7-6(6), 4-6, 7-6(1) on Tuesday, setting up a clash with Australia’s Alex de Minaur.
The top seed saved four set points in the opening set and closed out a ruthless third-set tie-break after two hours and 41 minutes, the ATP Tour reported. It is Zverev’s first Shanghai quarter-final since 2019 and his 40th ATP Masters 1000 last-eight appearance.
Zverev was playing for the first time since clinching year-end No. 1 honours on Monday. He said his ankle was “acting up” in the second set but he was happy to get through a difficult match against a player who “has been playing amazing tennis.”
Read more: Alexander Zverev Clinches Year-End No. 1 as Alcaraz Falls in Shanghai
Three-set battle
After a serve-dominated first set, Bublik held four set points but still lost the opener in a tie-break. Bublik levelled by becoming only the second player to break Zverev’s serve all tournament, the ATP said, before Zverev rallied from a break down in the decider and sealed victory with one of his 14 aces.
Match stats listed by Tennis.com show Zverev won 81% of first-serve points and saved one of three break points, while Bublik hit 20 aces and eight double faults.
De Minaur next
Zverev will next play Alex de Minaur, who beat Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-4 on Tuesday to reach his 10th Masters 1000 quarter-final. The Australian has yet to drop a set in Shanghai after a walkover and a win over Rei Sakamoto.
De Minaur is ninth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin and effectively occupies the final Nitto ATP Finals qualification spot with Jannik Sinner out for the rest of 2026, according to the ATP Tour.
Read more: Stefanos Tsitsipas Rallies Past Taylor Fritz Into Shanghai Last 16
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