Rinderknech Delivers Repeat Shock to Zverev in Shanghai
Amid the draining humidity of the Shanghai Masters, Arthur Rinderknech exploits Alexander Zverev’s fatigue for a second upset this year, as the draw’s top players grapple with physical and mental strains on a slippery hard-court stage.
In the thick, humid air of Shanghai, where the hard courts turn slick and every slide risks a turnover, third-seeded Alexander Zverev arrived as the highest-ranked force left in the Masters 1000 draw. The German powered through the first set 6-4 against 54th-ranked Arthur Rinderknech, leaning on deep crosscourt forehands to control rallies and force his opponent into defensive lobs. But as the match dragged past two hours, Zverev’s energy dipped, his footwork slowing on returns and allowing the Frenchman to flip the script with one break in the second for a 6-3 edge, then two more in the third for a decisive 6-2 close.
Zverev unravels in the heat
Rinderknech, drawing from their five-set Wimbledon battle earlier in the year, mixed low slices on his backhand to jam Zverev’s inside-out attempts, creating openings for flat down-the-line winners that the seed couldn’t chase down. At 30, the world No. 54 held serve throughout after the opener, his composed baseline probing turning Zverev’s frustration into unforced errors on second serves. This victory pushes Rinderknech to a career-high 23 wins in 2025 and marks his third trip to the fourth round at a Masters 1000, a surge built on tactical variety that thrives when favorites fade.
Next for the Frenchman looms Jiri Lehecka, who advanced by outlasting Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 6-4 through relentless returns that neutralized the Canadian’s big serves, promising a clash where surface speed could amplify aggressive flat hitting from both sides.
“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.”
De Minaur battles through humidity
Seventh-seeded Alex De Minaur channeled that survival ethos earlier, grinding out a 6-1, 7-5 win over Kamil Majchrzak in the same oppressive conditions, his quick lateral steps turning the Pole’s heavy groundstrokes into reachable crosscourt exchanges. The Australian, with a tour-leading 36 hard-court victories this season, absorbed an early second-set break to trail 4-3 but fired back immediately with a sharp down-the-line pass, converting five breaks overall to reach his seventh Masters 1000 fourth round. At 26, De Minaur’s ability to extend points on these moisture-affected courts highlights his endurance, positioning him one win from a personal best of 50 tour-level triumphs.
Awaiting him is Nuno Borges, who weathered Shang Juncheng 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3 in a three-set test of stamina, relying on solid 1–2 combinations to edge tiebreaks and late holds, setting up a matchup where De Minaur’s speed could counter the Portuguese player’s steady depth.
Seeds slip but persist in draw
Twelfth-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime navigated his own hazards, converting three of four break points to defeat Jesper de Jong 6-4, 7-5, though a second-set slip on the slick surface left him needing a ball kid’s help to rise, his aggressive inside-in forehands keeping the pressure on despite the interruption. The Canadian’s 10-2 August form, dented only by losses to Jannik Sinner, underscores his tactical poise on fast hard courts, where quick recoveries prevent rivals from gaining psychological ground. He now meets eighth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti, who outdueled fellow Italian Luciano Darderi 7-5, 7-6 (1) in a tiebreak-decided affair full of defensive underspin and probing net rushes, both men showcasing the mental edge needed to survive upsets.
The field feels the strain elsewhere, with defending champion Sinner withdrawing Sunday against Tallon Griekspoor at 7-6 (3), 5-7, 2-3 from cramps that highlighted the tournament’s physical toll, while top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz skips the event due to minor ailments after his Japan Open success. American Learner Tien added to the chaos by toppling Cameron Norrie 7-6 (4), 6-3, his tiebreak focus and late-break opportunism injecting youth into a draw vulnerable to bold underdogs. As Rinderknech‘s repeat stunner ripples through, the remaining contenders must blend sharp adjustments with unbreakable resolve to push deeper on courts that punish hesitation and reward those who adapt to the creeping fatigue.