Overview

• Báez defeated local favorite Zhizhen Zhang 2–6, 6–3, 6–4 in Shanghai after dropping the opening set.
• The match lasted a little over two hours, with Báez steady under strong home-crowd support for Zhang.
• “It was a very tough match, but I was able to impose my rhythm from the second set,” Báez said after the win.
• The victory is his second at Masters 1000 level in 2025, both on hard courts, as he seeks better results late in the year.
• He is set to face Holger Rune in round two, with the Dane leading their head-to-head 3–2 after a win in Barcelona this season.