Alex de Minaur’s run at the Shanghai Masters is over, having been cut short at the quarter-final stage by Alexander Zverev.
Admittedly, there was doubt that the Australian would be able to play here at all before the event began, given that he had retired from his China Open final against Novak Djokovic just a week ago.
However, having clearly shaken off whatever ailment forced him to forfeit, he impressed while securing a particularly commanding win over the in-form Karen Khachanov.
Alex de Minaur did not stick around with the press for long after his loss to Alexander Zverev, but did deliver his honest assessment of his opponent’s level while caught in the mixed zone.
Alex de Minaur speaks for the first time after losing to Alexander Zverev in Shanghai
The 27-year-old only answered one reporter’s question, and it was a rather straightforward one.
Asked for his thoughts on the match, De Minaur focused on Zverev, whilst also highlighting the key moments which let him down and cost him the match.
How long do you think Alexander Zverev keeps the number one ranking?
He is now guaranteed to be year end number one after Carlos Alcaraz’s shock loss in Shanghai…
He claimed: “Yeah, I thought Sascha served and played at an incredibly high level. I had two bad service games that were the real difference.
“Then in the second set, I had those break point chances on, you know, two second serves, which was quite rare, and I should have done a lot better than that. I missed a return there, which is not good enough. Then, yeah, that was basically it.
“I mean, I got into trouble in the service games, and that was the difference.
“The way Sascha was serving today, it was pretty hard to get a look and, yeah, all in all, I thought he went after it and played pretty big tennis.”
De Minaur agreed he wanted a rule change that would have directly impacted Zverev just days ago, as he appeared to take aim at how long he takes to serve. The German got his revenge today with a straightforward 6-4, 6-4 win.
Alex de Minaur’s new head-to-head record vs Alexander Zverev
In beating De Minaur again, Zverev has extended his lead in their head-to-head to nine wins and just four losses.
Interestingly, all four of those defeats have come in team competitions, making this one of the more unique rivalries on the ATP Tour.
When it really counts, it seems like Zverev emerges victorious, having enjoyed wins over De Minaur in Shanghai, Rome, Indian Wells and Roland Garros in recent years.
However, when it comes to the ATP Cup, the United Cup, or the Laver Cup, he finds another level, with De Minaur dramatically beating him at the Laver Cup just last month.
The new world number one will not worry too much about these outliers though, and is now the overwhelming favourite to go on and win the Shanghai Masters title.
