SHANGHAI: World number three Alexander Zverev suffered another major setback on Monday, crashing out of the Shanghai Masters after a stunning three-set defeat to France’s Arthur Rinderknech. The Frenchman staged an impressive comeback to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, leaving Zverev visibly dejected and questioning his form.
Also Read: Tazmin Brits Shines with Century as South Africa Defeat New Zealand in Women’s World Cup
The result marks another early exit for Zverev in a season filled with inconsistency and disappointment. His loss also leaves Novak Djokovic as the highest-ranked player remaining in the tournament, strengthening the Serbian legend’s chances of securing a record-extending fifth title in Shanghai.
Rinderknech, ranked 54th in the world, overcame sweltering conditions to pull off a memorable victory. The Frenchman’s resilience was evident as he recovered from a set down to dominate the final two sets. “I fought like hell, tried everything,” Rinderknech said after the match. “Zverev is such a good player… I knew it was going to be a battle. Starting in the second set, I was able to be offensive at the right moment, in a smarter way.”
For Zverev, it was another frustrating performance. The German admitted to feeling mentally drained, telling reporters after the match: “Just no confidence, no belief in the shots… My year has been terrible, I’m just playing terrible tennis all round.” The visibly emotional 27-year-old described the defeat as “nothing unusual these days,” suggesting deeper struggles with consistency and mindset.
Despite injuring his big toe in his previous match, Zverev showed no visible discomfort at the start. He broke early in the third game of the first set with a powerful forehand and appeared in control as he took the opener 6-4. However, Rinderknech quickly regained composure, breaking back in the second set and finding his rhythm with sharp, aggressive groundstrokes.
In the deciding set, the 30-year-old Frenchman’s momentum carried him through. He broke Zverev early and never looked back, while the German’s frustration grew. At one point, Zverev was forced to change his shoes due to sweat pouring out of them — a testament to the intense humidity that had fans waving hand fans and applying cool packs in the stands. But even that break couldn’t shift the momentum. A double fault in the seventh game sealed Zverev’s fate, as Rinderknech broke again before serving out the match with an ace.
Rinderknech celebrated with unrestrained joy, dropping to his knees and dancing on the court after clinching one of the biggest wins of his career. It was his second victory over Zverev this year, having also defeated him at Wimbledon earlier in the season.
With Zverev out, attention turns to Djokovic, who now leads the rankings in the remaining draw. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is set to face Spain’s Jaume Munar in the round of 16 on Tuesday. Djokovic’s biggest rivals in the draw have already exited — defending champion Jannik Sinner retired with leg cramps, Taylor Fritz fell in the fourth round, and Carlos Alcaraz withdrew to rest.
Elsewhere, Daniil Medvedev, the 2019 Shanghai champion, advanced after defeating Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3, 7-6 (7-5). Medvedev, who hasn’t won a title in two years, said he was pleased with his form. “I will take it match by match. I’m happy with the way I play so far,” he told AFP.
Australian Alex de Minaur also progressed after beating Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak 6-1, 7-5. He will face Portugal’s Nuno Borges, who ended local favorite Shang Juncheng’s run in three sets.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old American Learner Tien continued his breakthrough, defeating Britain’s Cameron Norrie 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 to set up another clash with Medvedev — just a week after beating him in the China Open semi-finals.
As the tournament moves into its final stages, all eyes are on Djokovic to see if he can capitalize on the weakened field and clinch yet another Shanghai Masters crown.
