Arthur Rinderknech topples Alexander Zverev for second time this season

Arthur Rinderknech is starting to make a name for himself — one that is synonymous with beating Alexander Zverev. The Frenchman scored his second successive victory over the World No. 3 Monday when he rallied to a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 triumph at the Shanghai Masters.

It was another statement win for Rinderknech, who had also stunned Zverev in five sets in the opening round of Wimbledon this year.

After dropping the first set, Rinderknech turned the match around with a fearless, front-footed display. He surged to the net relentlessly and won 24 of the 29 points at the net in the final two sets. This helped him suffocate Zverev’s rhythm and make his way to the fourth round of the tournament.

The German, who was visibly weary and bending over between points late in the match, struggled to keep pace with the 30-year-old’s aggression.

“This is huge,” Rinderknech said. “I had my first Top 5 win at a Grand Slam at Wimbledon against Sascha and it happens again. I guess I am a bit lucky against him and able to play my best tennis. I need to play my best tennis to beat a guy like Sascha, at No. 3 for many years, such a steady player and a very good player. I am very happy.”

The win marked Rinderknech’s career-best 23rd victory of a season and continued a quietly consistent 2025 campaign for the Frenchman. He is now into the fourth round of an ATP 1000 Masters event for the third time, having previously reached that stage in Toronto and Paris last year.

He will next face Jiri Lehecka, who defeated Canada’s Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 6-4 in straight sets.