World no. 3 Alexander Zverev made a winning start in Shanghai. The German defeated Valentin Royer 6-4, 6-4 in an hour and 38 minutes for his 160th Masters 1000 triumph.
Zverev served for the win at 5-4 in the second set when he stopped after the first point, feeling pain in his right foot and asking for a medical timeout. The favorite served out for the win, but we are yet to see how serious is his injury.
Alexander fired 12 aces and defended all five break points to keep the pressure on his rival. The Frenchman played better behind the second serve but experienced two breaks from four opportunities presented to world no. 3.
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The German landed 27 winners and 15 unforced errors, taming his strokes nicely and outplaying his rival in service winners and from the baseline. Zverev built the lead in the quickest exchanges, while nothing separated them in the more advanced ones.
Royer missed a routine forehand in the first game of the duel and experienced an early break. Alexander provided three comfortable holds and forged a 4-2 advantage before offering his rival a break chance in game eight.
Valentin missed a massive opportunity to convert it, allowing his rival to bring the game home and move 5-3 in front. Zverev served for the opener at 5-4 and landed an ace to wrap up the first part of the duel in 40 minutes.
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Royer fired a forehand down the line winner in the fourth game of the second set and created two break chances. The German denied them and closed the game to level the score at 2-2.
Valentin saved a break point in the seventh game and made a push on the return in the next one. Alexander saved them and closed the game with a forehand down the line winner to send the pressure to the other side.
The Frenchman squandered three game points in game nine, which would cost him dearly. Zverev seized the second break point with a lob winner to move in front and serve for the win.
However, he required a medical timeout following foot issues at 5-4. World no. 3 kept his composure and moved over the top with a hold at love.
