Alexander Zverev Advances in Shanghai Masters; Shelton and Tiafoe Eliminated

SHANGHAI (AP) — Alexander Zverev, the top seed and reigning U.S. Open champion, advanced to the third round of the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters with a victory over Quentin Halys, winning 6-4, 6-7 (8), 6-3 on Sunday. Despite letting two match points slip away in the second-set tiebreaker, Zverev controlled the match and did not face any break-point chances against him. He secured the win after breaking Halys's serve in the first game of the deciding set.

This victory marks Zverev's 60th win of the season and his fourth over Halys, including two encounters at Flushing Meadows.

In an earlier match, U.S. Open finalist Ben Shelton, seeded third, was defeated by 21-year-old Arthur Gea in straight tiebreakers, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3). Gea managed to convert his first match-point opportunity in the second set.

Seventh-seeded Francis Tiafoe also faced elimination, losing to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (6) after having a match point in the final tiebreaker.

Elsewhere, ninth-seeded Alex de Minaur defeated Rei Sakamoto 7-6 (6), 6-4, while 26th-seeded Karen Khachanov triumphed over Adrian Mannarino 6-2, 6-4.

Notably, No. 1-ranked Jannik Sinner withdrew from the tournament, citing a right knee injury and his decision to take the rest of 2026 off.

Zverev is now poised to finish the season as the world No. 1 and will face Alexander Bublik in the round of 16, who secured his place after defeating Brandon Nakashima 6-7 (7), 6-3, 7-6 (5).