Alexander Zverev reached his 89th Tour-level semifinal in Shanghai.
Richard PagliaroOctober 15, 20263 minute read
By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, October 15, 2026
Photo credit: Pete Staples/USTA
Securing the season-ending top spot hasn’t put a ceiling on Alexander Zverev’s success.
The top-seeded Zverev saved all five break point she faced defeating Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4 to charge into the Rolex Shanghai Masters semifinals today.
Before a Shanghai crowd that included Roger Federer and his twin sons Lenny and Leo as well as fellow former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt, Zverev commanded play on serve.
Zverev served 80 percent, won 80 percent of his first-serve points and blasted 10 aces against one double fault in topping de Minaur for the ninth time in 13 meetings.
“I think, especially from the baseline it was quite a good match. I think on a surface like that he’s really difficult to play because how fast he is and how flat he plays, the ball bounces through the court a lot,” Zverev said. “I feel like today the level was a lot higher from my end than the last couple of matches. I’m definitely satisfied with the increase in level.”
Two-time Grand Slam champion Zverev raised his 2026 record to an ATP-best 62-14, including a stellar 11-1 quarterfinal record this year with his lone quarterfinal defeat coming to Novak Djokovic in Beijing. This victory pushes Zverev past the 10,000 ranking points mark for the first time.
The 29-year-old German advanced to his 89th Tour-level semifinal where he will face Alejandro Davidovich Fokina for a spot in the final.
The 25th-seeded Spaniard led Arthur Gea 4-1 when the talented 21-year-old Frenchman retired after five games.
“I feel like he’s playing really well, especially here in Asia right now, he’s playing unbelievably well,” Zverev said of Davidovich Fokina. “He won a tournament, as well as now he’s in the semifinals.
“So, yeah, I’m expecting a very high-level match from him, and hopefully from me as well, and I’m looking forward to the tough challenge ahead.”
The former Olympic gold-medal champion has been bothered by a right ankle injury, which stings most on serve.
“On the serve, I feel my ankle the most, but it comes from the physicality of the rallies beforehand,” Zverev said. “So, if that is not there, then it feels better on my serve as well.”
Hammering a flat forehand down the line, Zverev broke at love for a 3-2 lead. The depth and pace of Zverev’s drives gave the speedy de Minaur little time to respond behind the baseline.
Landing heavy serves, Zverev played first-strike offense effectively stamping a love hold for 5-3.
Running de Minaur side to side, Zverev bent low and carved out a backhand drop volley to take a one-set lead after 37 minutes.
Though de Minaur earned double break point in the sixth game, he could not convert, mis-hitting a forehand on the first break point.
Covering the line, Zverev knocked off a backhand volley for double break point in the seventh game.
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Sixty-seven minutes into the match, de Minaur double faulted into the tape ceding the break and a 4-3 lead to Zverev.
The reigning Roland Garros champion served out the 77-minute victory at love.
