Overview

• Alexander Zverev fell 6–4, 3–6, 2–6 to France’s Arthur Rinderknech in the Shanghai Masters third round, fading after a strong start in sweltering conditions.
• The defeat repeats his Wimbledon stumble against the same opponent and extends a late‑season slide following a quarterfinal exit in Beijing.
• Zverev had required on‑court physio in his previous match after sharp pain in his right big toe; he said the bone was not affected and suspected a capsule injury pending further checks.
• He has battled recurrent back problems for months, received spinal injections, and curtailed practice, saying his serve and rotation remain limited.
• Zverev criticized an overloaded calendar and claimed court homogenization favors Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, drawing rebuttal from Sinner, while his participation in the Laver Cup and the upcoming Six Kings Slam has prompted scrutiny of his scheduling choices.