Alexander Zverev celebrated becoming the year’s No. 1 winner with a 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 7-6 (7-1) win over Alexander Bublik to reach the quarter-finals at the Shanghai Masters.
Zverev, who won the French Open and US Open this year, never looked 100 percent comfortable and admitted his “ankle was moving” after his victory.
The top seed will take on the ninth seed Alex de Minaur After one of her best performances of the year, the Australian advanced by defeating Karen Khachanov in straight sets 6-3 6-4.
“I’m starting to feel my body more and more, but I’m happy to win because it was a tough match. He’s been playing amazing tennis this week. I think the most important thing was that I won today,” Zverev said.
With current world No. 1 Jannik Sinner out for the rest of 2026 with a knee injury and Carlos Alcaraz unlikely to overtake Zverev this year, the German competed for the first time since winning the year-end No. 1 on Monday.
“It’s very, very special. It’s a different feeling to finish world No. 1,” Zverev said. “It’s a different kind of responsibility on your shoulders. I’m looking forward to it because I’m approaching 30. It’s a special feeling to achieve that.”
Zverev vs. Bublik: The tale of Lent
Former British No.1 Tim Henman was full of praise for Zverev at the Laver Cup in London last month.
“You have to earn ranking points and the way he played this year was absolutely phenomenal,” he said. ATP Tour.
“He was a service game away from being in four Slam finals. To work so hard and then not win a Slam and to win two this year and get to the Wimbledon final is phenomenal.
“Twelve months ago he was struggling. He wasn’t playing well and he wasn’t playing well in the Laver Cup. The transformation after 12 months is phenomenal.”
Henman added: “When you see how he’s progressed in the big matches, he hasn’t always done his best, but he’s found a way to win. Then you give yourself a chance to play better. His performance at the Slams speaks for itself.”
Boulter suffers from an early Wuhan exit
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Highlights from the WTA Wuhan match between Katie Boulter and Diana Shnaider
Katie Boulter lost with the 11th seed Diana Schneider In the first round of the Wuhan Open.
The British No. 1 faced French Open semifinalist Schneider of Russia and lost 6-3 6-1.
Boulter, who is mourning the death of his grandfather, started well and led by an early break, but he was constantly under pressure on serve and could not match his opponent’s consistency.
The 22-year-old left-hander, who defeated Boulter in the Hong Kong final in 2024, is now 3-0 against the Briton and has won 30 rounds this season.
Swiatek aims to end the year on a positive note as she is in the balance at the WTA Finals
Iga Swiatek is running out of time to qualify for this year’s WTA Finals
Iga Swiatek has played in every edition of the WTA Finals since 2021, but with the Pole running out of time to qualify for this year’s season-ending tournament, he knows the importance of going deep in his few remaining events.
The six-time major champion has won just one tournament this year at the Canadian Open in August and has failed to make it past the quarterfinals in all four Grand Slams.
The 25-year-old, who will win the WTA Finals in 2023, is currently ranked 10th in Wales for the Nov. 8-15 tournament, with only four of the eight spots still up for grabs.
“Obviously I’m aware of the situation and it would be great to get to the Finals, that’s definitely our goal,” Swiatek said.
“It is the first time that I am faced with such a situation to reach the finals.
“It’s difficult, but I think it’s positive and I’m really motivated. I still have a few more tournaments to go.”
NOW streaming tennis without a contract and the Sky Sports Programme. You can watch the WTA/ATP China Open and ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters live on Sky Sports.