Alexander Zverev beat Alexander Bublik 7-6 (6), 4-6, 7-6 (1) on Tuesday to reach the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters. It was his first match since he secured the year-end No. 1 ranking.
Zverev saved three set points in the first-set tiebreaker. He beat Bublik for only the second time in five career meetings.
Zverev battles through
Zverev said his ankle bothered him during the match. “My ankle was acting up, unfortunately,” Zverev said. “It was kind of understandable because I have been playing a lot of tennis, which is kind of a good sign because I have been playing well. I am starting to feel my body more and more but I am happy to get through.”
Bublik led 20-15 in aces, but he also hit eight double faults to Zverev’s one.
Ranking race
On Monday, third-ranked Carlos Alcaraz lost, which assured Zverev of finishing the year at the top of the rankings. Zverev is currently No. 2, but he will overtake top-ranked Jannik Sinner next month after the Italian ended his season because of right knee inflammation.
Zverev has won the French Open and U.S. Open this year for his first two Grand Slam titles.
Next up
Zverev will next face Alex de Minaur, who has won their last two meetings, both at the Laver Cup.
In another second-round match, Arthur Gea defeated Jakub Mensik 7-6 (4), 6-4.