Alexander Zverev Told He’s ‘Not Going to Be World No.1 for Nothing’ After Latest Win

Alexander Zverev survived a scare in his third-round match at the Shanghai Masters. Following a straight-set win over Wu Yibing, the first seed clinched a 6-4, 6-7(8), 6-3 victory over Quentin Halys.

If Zverev reaches the final and wins the title, he will have 10,670 ranking points. He will trail just 280 points behind World No.1 Jannik Sinner. Because Sinner has ended his season due to a knee injury and won’t defend his titles at the Vienna Open, Paris Masters, and the ATP Finals, he will lose his No.1 ranking to the two-time Grand Slam champion.

Zverev capitalized on the absence and physical setbacks of Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner in the Grand Slam events, winning the French Open by beating Flavio Cobolli and the US Open by beating Ben Shelton. Following his latest win, his opponent Halys said the German has what it takes to become the world’s top-ranked player.

At 0-30 on his serve at the start of the third set, I got hit with almost four aces. Then, I served in the last game before changing balls. Those games were a bit tougher. I didn’t hit any aces at that point; he returned everything and won every rally. After that, the new balls came in, and there were practically no more opportunities. That’s where he’s better than me: when I have even the slightest chance, even with very worn balls, he manages to hit aces. I couldn’t.

Quentin Halys told reporters (H/T: L’Equipe)

Zverev will next be locking horns with 19th seed Alexander Bublik. The Kazakh ace overcame Brandon Nakashima in three sets before setting up the clash with Zverev.

But I’m not going to complain. I played a good match; he’s not going to be world number one for nothing. Congratulations to him, but I’m still proud of what I did.

Quentin Halys added

Zverev is chasing his third title of the season in Shanghai, following his two successful Grand Slam runs. Apart from the two Majors, the 29-year-old also reached the finals of the Madrid Open and Wimbledon, losing both to Sinner.

Before arriving in Shanghai, Zverev played at the China Open, where his run ended at the hands of eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals. If Zverev beats Bublik, he will face Alex de Minaur or Karen Khachanov in the fourth round.

Jimmy Connors says he was wrong about Alexander Zverev

Jimmy Connors criticized Alexander Zverev in the past. But following his French Open and US Open wins, the eight-time Major champion has only praise for the World No.2. During his Advantage Connors podcast, Connors lauded Sascha for capitalizing on the opportunities and finally ending his Major title drought.

I want to say it again. We criticized him. You know, we thought that he should have been that maybe three or four years ago, winning a Major, or maybe even more than one. But boy, did he step up, and took advantage of every opportunity that he had, and came through, and played the kind of tennis necessary, and deserves to be number one.

Following the Shanghai Masters, Zverev will compete at the Vienna Open, where last year, Jannik Sinner beat him in the final. Later at the Paris Masters, Sinner knocked him out in the semifinals before winning the title by beating Felix Auger-Aliassime.

In Shanghai, Zverev is chasing his eighth Masters 1000 title. He has not yet won a title at this level since winning the 2024 Paris Masters.

Valentin Vacherot is the reigning champion here. Last year, after upsetting Novak Djokovic in the semifinal, the Monegasque beat his cousin Arthur Rinderknech in the final.

Also read: Iga Swiatek Rates Her Chances of Qualifying for WTA Finals After China Open Upset