SHANGHAI/WASHINGTON, October 13, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
Alex de Minaur has come a long way in a week’s time, ever since he was forced to retire from last week’s ATP 500 China Open final against Novak Djokovic early in the second set with a groin injury.
Since arriving for the Rolex Shanghai Masters, the penultimate ATP Masters 1000 event of the 2026 season, the World No. 9 de Minaur has put together three-consecutive clean-sheet victories at Qi Zhong Tennis Center. He’s yet to drop a set in Shanghai.
De Minaur’s latest triumph opened play on Stadium Court Tuesday afternoon, a 6-3, 6-4 victory over No. 26 seed Karen Khachanov of Russia that the ninth seed completed in 85 minutes to advance to the quarterfinals. De Minaur won 80 percent (32 of 40) of his first-serve points and backed it by winning 63 percent (10 of 16) of his second-serve points. He saved the only break point he faced from Khachanov, broke his opponent twice in three opportunities and outpointed him 61-49.
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De Minaur’s latest triumph improved his 2026 season win-loss record to 42-19. He’s won one tour-level title this year, indoors in Rotterdam last February.
If Tuesday’s fourth-round victory over Khachanov offered any proof, de Minaur showed confidence in his movement about the court – and not like someone recovering from adductor troubles. He addressed the matter during his mixed zone interview after the Khachanov match.
“Yeah, it’s been feeling better and better every single day,” he said. “It’s been seven to eight days since that match, and there’s been a lot of focus on the recovery aspect of it. I’ve been doing everything in my power to feel better each and every day.
“Today was by far the best day. I had to complement that with some great tennis and great serving and some smart kind of tactics. All in all, I thought it was a very clean match, which I’m very happy with.”
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Now, the 27-year-old Sydneysider, who has won seven of his last eight matches and is currently ninth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin – and in the final qualification spot for the Nitto ATP Finals with Jannik Sinner out of the year-end event due to a knee injury – is through to his 10th ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal of his career. It’s de Minaur’s second one this season following Monte-Carlo – and his next opponent is none other than top seed Alexander Zverev.
“Well, Zverev, No. 1 player in the world. He has played incredible this whole year, immense amount of confidence, the most in-form player, for sure,” de Minaur said.
The World No. 2 from Germany was pushed to a third-set tie-break before defeating Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, 7-6 (6), 4-6, 7-6 (1), in two hours and 37 minutes on Stadium Court Tuesday evening to advance to the quarterfinal round at Shanghai for the first time since 2019.
Zverev, who clinched ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honors on Monday, struck his 15th ace on match point of this fourth-round contest – his 49th winner of the fourth-round match – to put away his tour-leading 61st victory of the season. He won 81 percent (63 of 78) of his first-serve points, converted one of six break points and outpointed Bublik 118-106. By comparison, Bublik finished with 20 aces and 46 winners, and converted two of three break points.
The year-end No. 1 comes through 💪
@AlexZverev prevails over Bublik in a thriller to reach the last 8!
#RolexShanghaiMasters https://t.co/LrAjcnLeL7
— Rolex Shanghai Masters (@SH_RolexMasters) October 13, 2026
After Zverev saved four set points in the first set, he dealt with an ankle issue during the middle set. Then, he raised his level during the third set and played a smart, solid tiebreaker to capture the fourth-round match.
Now, Zverev is through to his 40th career ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal as he continues to pursue an eighth ATP Masters 1000 title – and first one in Shanghai.
During his on-court interview with ATP Media, Zverev addressed the subject of his ailing ankle. “My ankle was acting up, unfortunately,” he 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. It was a difficult match because he has been playing amazing tennis.”
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Gea gives another statement performance
Arthur Gea‘s breakout season on the ATP Tour continues to write itself. After advancing to his first ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal with a solid 7-6 (4), 6-4 victory over No. 13 seed Jakub Mensik on Stadium Court Tuesday afternoon, the 21-year-old Frenchman has climbed 12 places in the PIF ATP Live Rankings this week, going from No. 56 to No. 44. He’s won 13 of his last 15 tour-level matches, too.
After being pushed to three sets in his first two matches, defeating 60th-ranked Jaime Faria of Portugal and No. 30 seed Ugo Humbert of France, Gea has strung together consecutive wins in straight sets, defeating World No. 4 and third seed Ben Shelton of the United States and World No. 15 Mensik of Czechia.
At the first time of asking 🙌
On his Masters 1000 debut, Arthur Gea defeats No. 13 seed Mensik 7-6 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals!
#RolexShanghaiMasters https://t.co/kb1kcfFW0R
— Rolex Shanghai Masters (@SH_RolexMasters) October 13, 2026
Against Mensik, Gea hit 21 winners – including 11 aces – and won 79 percent (38 of 48) of his first serve points. He backed it by winning 59 percent (16 of 27) of his second-serve points. Gea saved both break points he faced, converted one of four chances against Mensik, and outpointed him 75-69. It all added up to his 16th tour-level victory of the season.
“I’m really happy about the result. I had a little revenge today, because at the US Open I stopped in this round,” said Gea during his on-court interview with ATP Media, after improving to 4-1 against Top-20 players. “I wanted to go far this week, and obviously now it’s starting to be good. I hope it’s going to continue.”
They certainly do, Arthur 😉
#RolexShanghaiMasters https://t.co/V4bk1Tu5xp
— Rolex Shanghai Masters (@SH_RolexMasters) October 13, 2026
In the quarterfinal round, Gea will face No. 25 seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain, who was pushed to a third-set tie-break for the second-straight round before pulling out a 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6) victory over No. 34 Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, in two hours and four minutes Tuesday evening on Stadium Court. The loss ended Hurkacz’s nine-match winning streak in Shanghai, going back to his 2023 championship run.
It also marked the second time Davidovich Fokina has beaten Hurkacz this month, after he prevailed in the final at Chengdu two weeks ago. The 26th-ranked Spaniard is now 6-2 lifetime against the Polish No. 1 and has won their last four meetings.
Davidovich Fokina, who went the distance to defeat No. 7 seed Frances Tiafoe on Sunday evening, struck 34 winners and converted both of his break-point opportunities against Hurkacz. Despite being outpointed 99-88, Davidovich Fokina collected his 30th victory of the season to advance to the last eight against Gea.
Vamos Foki 🇪🇸
@alexdavidovich outlasts 2023 champion Hurkacz 1-6 6-3 7-6 to reach his maiden Shanghai last 8!
#RolexShanghaiMasters https://t.co/HdqypeXBTA
— Rolex Shanghai Masters (@SH_RolexMasters) October 13, 2026
Vacherot’s reign in Shanghai ended by Paul
It’s understandable that defending champion Valentin Vacherot of Monaco was disappointed after losing in straight sets to No. 15 seed Tommy Paul of the United States Monday night on Stadium Court. The loss ended Vacherot’s 10-match winning streak in Shanghai, which began during last year’s qualifying draw.
“I would rather leave this tournament with a big match, a good fight, I don’t know, three sets or something, not just losing 6-4, 6-2,” the World No. 14 and 17th-seeded Vacherot said during a mixed zone interview Monday evening, after coming off court against Paul, where he was denied a third Top-20 hard-court victory this season. Paul hit 21 winners and made just 16 unforced errors, while Vacherot converted just one of seven break points and was outpointed 67-52.
“But it’s tennis, you cannot control everything. Especially you cannot control when your opponent is playing really well, like tonight. So, yeah, it’s okay. I mean, of course next year I will be as pleased coming back as I was this year.”
See you next year, @val_vacherot 👋
#RolexShanghaiMasters https://t.co/mhu97gfHmS
— Rolex Shanghai Masters (@SH_RolexMasters) October 12, 2026
Around the Rolex Shanghai Masters
In a week filled with upsets in the doubles draw, the latest to go down to defeat is No. 5 seeds Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool of Great Britain. They fell to unseeded Marc Polmans of Australia and Jan Zielinski of Poland, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 12-10, in one hour and 42 minutes on Show Court 3. The victory by the Aussie/Polish duo advanced them to the quarterfinal round.
On Tuesday, Polmans and Zielinski were joined by Austrians Lucas Miedler and Neil Oberleitner, whom they will face in the quarterfinals on Thursday. Miedler and Oberleitner defeated Austin Krajicek of the United States and Nikola Mektic of Croatia, 6-3, 6-4, in 66 minutes on Show Court 3.
Meanwhile, No. 8 seeds Theo Arribage and Albano Olivetti of France advanced to the quarterfinals by walkover against Daniil Medvedev of Russia and Ivan Liutarevich of Belarus. Next, they will face No. 3 seeds Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz of Germany on Wednesday. Also, Francisco Cabral of Portugal and JJ Tracy of the United States will face Robert Galloway of the United States and Andre Goransson of Sweden in the quarterfinal round.
The top seeds, Christian Harrison of the United States and Neal Skupski of Great Britain, will play Germany’s Jakob Schnaitter and Mark Wallner in the quarterfinal round on Thursday.
Tuesday’s Shanghai Masters results
Wednesday’s Shanghai Masters order of play
By the numbers
Among active players, Stefanos Tsitsipas is ninth in total victories (401) and ninth in total number of ATP Masters 1000 wins (120). Tsitsipas will try to add to his totals when he faces Daniil Medvedev in the fourth round on Wednesday. Medvedev ranks seventh in both total victories (463) and total number of ATP Masters 1000 wins (135).
“Quotable …”
“Obviously I really tried to play my game. I just felt like last week in Tokyo I really was in good shape, this week in training as well. Just feeling the ball, being aggressive and also serving quite well. The percentages have been really high in the past few matches because we really worked on it, and this gave me a little bit of breathing room. I have a good return, and if I serve well, I can utilize this even more.
“I’m very happy how I handled the tie-break. It’s never easy to get broken when you are serving for the match, but to get back in the tie-break and play those key moments, serve big, I’m very happy with that one especially.”
– Zizou Bergs of Belgium, during his on-court interview after upsetting World No. 3 and second seed Carlos Alcaraz Monday to reach the fourth round.
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