Zverev ousted by 54th-ranked
Rinderknech in third round of Shanghai Masters
[October 07, 2025]
SHANGHAI (AP) — Third-seeded Alexander Zverev lost to
54th-ranked Arthur Rinderknech 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the third round of
the Shanghai Masters on Monday.
Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the draw, looked in
control after taking the first set but struggled the rest of the
match and couldn't break serve again. Rinderknech got a break in the
second set and two in the third to seal the victory in more than two
hours.
Rinderknech also beat Zverev in five sets in the first round at
Wimbledon this year.
“This is huge,” Rinderknech said. “I had my first top-5 win at a
Grand Slam at Wimbledon against Sascha and it happens again. I guess
I am a bit lucky against him and able to play my best tennis. I need
to play my best tennis to beat a guy like Sascha, at No. 3 for many
years, such a steady player and a very good player.”
In the previous round in Shanghai, Zverev needed treatment on a toe
injury before beating Valentin Royer in straight sets.
The 30-year-old Rinderknech has a career-best 23 wins in 2025 and is
into the fourth round at a Masters 1000 event for the third time.
He will next play Jiri Lehecka, who defeated Denis Shapovalov 6-4,
6-4.
Earlier, seventh-seeded Alex De Minaur defeated Kamil Majchrzak 6-1,
7-5 in humid conditions for his tour-leading 36th win on hard courts
this year.
The 26-year-old De Minaur broke Majchrzak’s serve five times to
reach his seventh Masters 1000 fourth round of the season. Two of
the breaks came after he dropped serve to trail 4-3 in the second
set.
“I came into this week knowing how tough the conditions were going
to be,” De Minaur said. “So the mindset ultimately is surviving,
finding ways, and getting ready for battles every time you step out
on the court. There is no such thing as easy matches, especially in
these conditions, so I’m glad I was able to compose myself in the
second set, get the break back, and finish it off in two. If we had
gone into a third, it would have been very physical.”
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Alexander Zverev of Germany reacts after losing a point to Arthur
Rinderknech of France during the men's singles match of the Shanghai
Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis
Center, in Shanghai, China, Monday, October. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy
Wong)
De Minaur will next face Nuno Borges, who defeated
Shang Juncheng 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3. Another win for De Minaur would
see him hit 50 tour-level victories in a season for the first time.
Felix Auger-Aliassime converted three of four break points to defeat
Jesper de Jong 6-4, 7-5. The 12th-seeded Auger-Aliassime was helped
to his feet by a ball kid after slipping in the second set. He is
10-2 in August, with both defeats coming against Jannik Sinner.
Auger-Aliassime will next face eighth-seeded Lorenzo Muzetti, who
defeated fellow Italian Luciano Darderi 7-5, 7-6 (1).
Sinner, the defending champion, trailed 7-6 (3), 5-7, 2-3 against
Tallon Griekspoor on Sunday when he retired from the match because
of cramps.
Top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz, who won the Japan Open last week, is not
in Shanghai due to minor ailments.
American Learner Tien defeated Cameron Norrie 7-6(4), 6-3.
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