Rinderknech Triumphs Over Zverev, Progresses in Shanghai
Frenchman now holds a 2-0 advantage in their Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry.
October 06, 2025
Image Credit: Getty Images
Arthur Rinderknech secures his second victory against Alexander Zverev in their Lexus ATP Head2Head matchup.
Reported by Sam Jacot
Arthur Rinderknech continued his winning streak against Alexander Zverev on Monday at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, overcoming the German with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Earlier this year, Rinderknech defeated the World No. 3 in a thrilling five-set battle at Wimbledon, and he delivered yet another strong performance at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Shanghai. After dropping the first set, Rinderknech dominated at the net, winning 24 out of 29 points in the following two sets, showcasing impressive energy while Zverev struggled to keep up.
This marks Rinderknech’s career-high 23 victories in 2025, as he reaches the fourth round of an ATP Masters 1000 event for the third time, having previously done so in Toronto and Paris last season. The 30-year-old currently holds a 3-18 record against Top 10 players.
“This victory is significant for me,” Rinderknech expressed. “Winning my first Top 5 match at a Grand Slam against Sascha at Wimbledon was memorable, and to achieve it again means a lot. I feel fortunate to be playing my best tennis against him. It takes peak performance to defeat a seasoned player like Sascha, a ranked competitor for years. I’m genuinely thrilled.”
Rinderknech moved up five spots to No. 49 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and will face Jiri Lehecka next, who defeated Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 6-4. Lehecka has advanced to the last 16 in six of the nine Masters 1000 events this year.
With Jannik Sinner’s retirement due to cramp on Sunday, Zverev remained the highest-ranked player in the draw. He is currently positioned fourth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, holding a 1,475-point lead over 10th-ranked Felix Auger-Aliassime, who is just outside the Top 8 cut, with Jack Draper sidelined for the rest of the season. Zverev is a two-time champion of the Nitto ATP Finals.
In other news, #NextGenATP American Learner Tien maintained his strong performance with a 7-6(4), 6-3 victory over Cameron Norrie. The left-hander has won seven of his last eight matches, including reaching his first ATP Tour final in Beijing last week. Next up, he will face either Daniil Medvedev or Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in Shanghai, where he’s competing at a career-high rank of No. 36.
