In a thrilling turn of events at the Rolex Masters in Shanghai, the tournament witnessed the exit of another high-profile player as Alexander Zverev, currently ranked third in the world, was upset by Arthur Rinderknech in the third round. The final score of the match read 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3 in favor of the Frenchman, marking a significant victory as Rinderknech has now achieved his second win against Zverev at a Grand Slam-level event, having previously defeated him earlier this year at Wimbledon.
Rinderknech, age 30, displayed remarkable resilience after dropping the opening set, ultimately seizing control of the match to advance to the fourth round of a Masters event for the third time in his career. Dominating the net, he won 24 out of 29 points when approaching the net, showcasing his tactical acumen and ability to pressure the German star.
“This victory is monumental for me,” Rinderknech commented after the match. “I had my first Top 5 win at Wimbledon against Sascha, and to do it again feels incredible. I was lucky to be in form against him, as I know I need to bring my best game against someone of his caliber.”
Moving on, Rinderknech will face Jiri Lehecka in the next round. The Czech player secured his place by eliminating Canada’s Denis Shapovalov with a solid 6-4, 6-4 showing.
Zverev’s loss is particularly noteworthy as he was the highest-ranked player remaining in the draw after Jannik Sinner was forced to retire due to cramping. With Zverev’s departure, the race for a spot in the ATP Tour Finals in Turin intensifies, where players are vying for vital points in the final weeks of the season.
In other noteworthy matches, teenage sensation Learner Tien continued to make waves, defeating British No. 2 Cameron Norrie 7-6(4), 6-3. Tien, who was a finalist in last week’s event in Beijing, is set to compete against former champion Daniil Medvedev, who advanced after a challenging match against Spain’s Alejandro Davidovic Fokina, winning 6-3, 7-6(5).
Two players closely monitoring the standings for Turin qualification, Alex de Minaur and Felix Auger-Aliassime, also progressed to the next round. De Minaur, seeded seventh, dispatched Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak with a scoreline of 6-1, 7-5. Reflecting on his performance, he remarked, “I came into this week knowing how tough the conditions were going to be, so my focus was on surviving and finding a way to win. Each match is a battle out here.”
De Minaur will square off against Nuno Borges, who reached the fourth round after overcoming Shang Junchen from China in a tightly contested match that ended 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3.
Auger-Aliassime, currently tenth in the race and looking to solidify his place in Turin, prevailed over Dutch player Jesper de Jong 6-4, 7-5. He is set to face Lorenzo Musetti, the eighth seed, who triumphed in an all-Italian showdown against Luciano Dardieri, winning 7-5, 7-6(1). The upcoming clash between Auger-Aliassime and Musetti is particularly significant, as just 580 points separate them in the standings, making their match pivotal in the quest for a coveted Finals spot.
As the tournament progresses, the tension mounts with significant implications for player rankings and futures ahead of the ATP Tour Finals.
