World no. 54 Arthur Rinderknech is enjoying his best season. The Frenchman will compete in the last 16 at the Shanghai Masters following a rock-solid 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over world no. 3 Alexander Zverev.
The lower-ranked player sealed the deal in two hours and 12 minutes for his second victory over Zverev in 2025. Arthur dropped the opener before raising his level and leaving the former finalist behind in sets two and three.
Rinderknech clinched 17 points more than the favorite. He outplayed Alexander behind the second serve and denied six of seven break points, keeping the pressure on the other side.
World no. 3 struggledto follow that pace in sets two and three, experiencing three breaks and suffering an early loss. Rinderknech produced his A-game and landed 38 winners and 23 unforced errors.
They stayed neck and neck in service winners and from the baseline, while the Frenchman took charge at the net and grabbed 24 of 30 points! Zverev provided five comfortable holds in the opening set and kept the pressure on the other side.
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Arthur faced three break points in the first game of the duel and denied them to avoid an early setback. However, the German stepped in on the return at 1-1 and drew the rival's mistake for an early lead.
Zverev served well and landed a forehand winner at 5-4 to clinch the first part of the duel in 43 minutes. World no. 3netted a backhand on a break point in the first game of the second set before losing ground on serve at 1-2.
Rinderknech created four break points and seized the last with a backhand crosscourt winner for a 3-1 advantage. The Frenchman held at love for 4-1 and grabbed the seventh game after a deuce to maintain the lead.
Arthur served for the set at 5-3 and held at love with a volley winner, introducing a decider after an hour and a half. Rinderknech secured another break in the thirdgame of the final set with a forced error.
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The Frenchman saved two break points in the fourth game and held for a 3-1 advantage. Arthur landed a crafty drop shot winner in the sixth game and moved 4-2 ahead.
The lower-ranked player made another push on the return in game seven and hit a backhand volley winner at the net for another break that sent him 5-2 in front.
Rinderknech served for the win in game eight and held at love with an ace, sealing the deal in style and sending Zverev packing.
