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German Alexander Zverev narrowly defeated Frenchman Quentin Halys 6-4, 6-7 (8-10), and 6-3 yesterday, in the third round of the Shanghai Masters 1000 tennis tournament, continuing his approach to the top of the world rankings.
The top-seeded German won the match against the Frenchman in two hours and 18 minutes, advancing to the round of 16, despite appearing slightly uncomfortable in his movements during the final stages of the match.
The 29-year-old Zverev can end the year at the top of the world rankings if he reaches the semifinals.
Zverev seemed frustrated at times, as he criticized his team even while winning the first set against Halys, ranked 48th in the world, in 38 minutes.
The second set was more competitive, as both players held their serves, leading to a tiebreak.
Zverev saved himself from trailing 6-4 in the tiebreak with a brilliant backhand on the line, but later wasted a match point when he missed a forehand return.
The third set seemed destined for another battle, but Zverev broke his opponent's serve to lead 2-0, then relied on his strong and stable serve to secure the win.
Zverev poses a direct threat to the top spot held by Italian Jannik Sinner, as the US Open and French Open champion has never topped the world rankings.
Frenchman Arthur Ghys, ranked 56th in the world, eliminated American Ben Shelton 7-6 (7-5) and 6-7 (7-3), making the US Open runner-up the most prominent victim of the Chinese tournament so far.
The 21-year-old Frenchman achieved the biggest victory of his professional career.
He had withdrawn from the Japan Open, which concluded last week, due to fitness concerns.
Ghys will face Czech Jakub Mensik in the next round, who defeated Argentine Francisco Cerúndolo 6-3, 3-6, and 6-2.
Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik defeated American Brandon Nakashima in a tough match that ended 7-6 (7-9), 6-3, and 7-6 (7-5).
Beijing tournament
Chinese Zheng Qinwen, ranked 54th in the world, won her first WTA 1000 title, defeating young Russian Mirra Andreeva 7-5 and 6-4 yesterday in the Beijing tournament final.
The Olympic champion from the Paris Games, aged 24, won the match in one hour and 43 minutes against Andreeva, who was playing in her first final since winning the Roland Garros title in early June.
Qinwen became the first Chinese player to win the Beijing 1000-point tournament, which started in 2004, and confirmed her return to her best form by winning the sixth title of her career in WTA tournaments.
The daughter of Hubei Province in central China had reached the world's fourth place 16 months ago, but fell out of the top 100 after undergoing elbow surgery in the summer of 2025 and fluctuating results in the first half of the 2026 season.
Qinwen benefited from a wildcard invitation granted by the Beijing tournament organizers to enter directly into the main draw, becoming the fourth player to win a title in this category with a wildcard, after Russian Maria Sharapova (Cincinnati 2011) and Canadians Bianca Andreescu (Indian Wells 2019) and Victoria Mboko (Montreal 2025).
In contrast, Andreeva lost her second final in this category this season, after her defeat in the Madrid final in early May.
The Russian player had won her first two titles in this category in 2025, in Dubai and Indian Wells.
Andreeva will rise to third in the world rankings today, the best ranking she has achieved in her career.
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