Alexander Zverev marked his new status as sure-thing year-end No. 1 by reaching the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters on Tuesday by posting a fighting 7-6 (6), 4-6, 7-6 (1) victory over Alexander Bublik..

The 29-year-old German whose two Grand Slam titles this season and the absence of injured Jannik Sinner helped him into the top spot for the first time, needed to save four early set points and deal with an ank;e issue on his journey into the last eight.

Zverev moved through in just under two and three-quarter hours to set up a match with last week’s Beijing finalist Alex de Minaur, The Australian booked his spot over Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-4.

Zverev will be playing in his 40th quarter-final in a Masters 1000 and is on the hunt for an eighth trophy this season.

He said his ankle was giving problems – but not enough to affect the match outcome.”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’m starting to feel my body more and more but happy to get through. It was a difficult match because he has been playing amazing tennis,” he said after coming from a break down in the deciding set.

De Minaur has bounced back nicely in Shanghai after quitting the Tokyo final against Carlos Alcaraz with an adductor muscle injury.

The Shanghai Masters has suffered a second box office blow with Carlos Alcaraz pulling out injured from the Asian showpiece.

Alcaraz revealed that he suffered a left ankle injury in his opening match in Tokyo just over a week ago.

The Spaniard who won the Tokyo title this week joined world No. 1 Jannik Sinner on the sidelines in China’s commercial capital.  

World No. 2 Alexander Zverev is the only member of the ranking top three to be involved in Shanghai with the race to the eight-man year-end finals next month in Turin tightening.

Sinner ended his season this week in hopes of avoiding surgery on a knee injury which has kept him off court since winning Wimbledon nearly three months ago.

The all-star pair may be paying the physical price for the ATP cash grab – extending most Masters events from the normal week to a bloated 12-13-days,

Alcaaz showed no signs of the ankle problem during his winning run in Tokyo, but apparently did not want to risk further by testing it in China.

“I’m very disappointed to announce that I won’t be able to play the Rolex Shanghai Masters this year!” Alcaraz posted on social media.

“Unfortunately, I’ve been struggling with some physical issues and, after discussing with my team, we believe the best decision is to rest and recover. 

“I was really looking forward to playing in front of the amazing fans in Shanghai again. I hope to be back soon and see my Chinese fans next year!”

The No. 3 leads the Tour with 67 match wins this season, including three titles.

Main photo:-Carlos Alcaraz playing in Shanghai in 2023.

Carlos Alcaraz began his Asian swing with a 7-6. 6-4, Tokyo title victory which thrust the Spaniard among the sports’s elites after successfully defending the Japan Open trophy on Tuesday.

Alcaraz backed up his 2025 trophy at the Ariake colosseum, matching the back-to-back wins here of Stefan Edberg (1989-1991) and Pete Sampras (1993-1994).

Alcaraz, who missed almost five months of play due to a wrist injury, picked up this third title of the season after the Australian Open and Doha in February.

The Spaniard was all smiles after his win, telling Britain’s Sky: “I’m really happy to be able to lift a trophy again. It’s been a while and obviously it’s extra special after my injury.”

The winner  called the experience “a tough week (where) I didn’t find my best tennis, my best level, but I did find the good solutions.

“That’s what matters in the end.”

The winner called the final “the best match of the week, or at least more consistent the level that I played, so I’m just really, really happy.”

Alcaraz rallied from 4-2 down in the opening-set tiebreaker, winning five straight points to secure the set.

In the second, one break of his Czech opponent was enough to lift the trophy after 96 minutes.

The world No. 3 said that his enforced injury absence serves as a learning experience.

“A lot of negative thoughts come to your mind. If you’re going to come back healthy, if you’re going to come back the same as I was before. If I will be able to get the ball normal without pain at all/.

“But I try to put those thoughts away all the time. My team and I knew that if I come back, I’m going to be healthy 100 percent.”

Main photo:- Carlos Alcaraz lifts Japan Open trophy – © ATPTour.com