Sinner's season is over, and that puts Djokovic in a Turin place
Our take Sinner's knee helps Djokovic most
Alexander Zverev, the top seed, plays Alex de Minaur in the Shanghai Masters quarter-final on Thursday, not before 18:00 local time (11:00 UK). Our pick: Zverev to win in three sets, analysis only.
| Match | Alexander Zverev vs Alex de Minaur |
|---|---|
| Tournament | ATP · Shanghai Masters, Shanghai · Quarter-final |
| Surface | Hard |
| Start | 15 OCT · 11:00 UK · 18:00 local |
| Court | Stadium Court · Third match on court, after Gea v Davidovich Fokina (not before 6:00 PM) |
| Our pick | Alexander Zverev win · 1.48 · analysis only |
| Our estimate | 60–66% |
| Predicted score | 2:1 (7:6, 4:6, 6:4) |
| Main reason | He beat Wu Yibing 6:4, 7:6, Quentin Halys 6:4, 6:7, 6:3 and Alexander Bublik 7:6, 4:6, 7:6 on Tuesday. |
Zverev needed two tie-breaks against Bublik; de Minaur has not dropped a set in Shanghai
Last ten results, oldest to newest; the ringed one is the latest. Tap a result for the opponent and score.
| Won v | Bublik A.Shanghai · 13.10.26 | 7-6(6), 4-6, 7-6(1) |
| Won v | Halys Q.Shanghai · 11.10.26 | 6-4, 6(8)-7, 6-3 |
| Won v | Wu Y.Shanghai · 09.10.26 | 6-4, 7-6(4) |
| Lost to | Djokovic N.Beijing · 04.10.26 | 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 |
| Won v | Shang J.Beijing · 03.10.26 | 6-0, 6-3 |
| Won v | Norrie C.Beijing · 01.10.26 | 7-6(1), 6-4 |
| Won v | Tien L.Laver Cup · 27.09.26 | 7-6(3), 6-3 |
| Lost to | De Minaur A.Laver Cup · 26.09.26 | 2-6, 7-6(5), 11-9 |
| Won v | Prizmic D.Davis Cup · 20.09.26 | 6-2, 6-4 |
| Won v | Dodig M.Davis Cup · 19.09.26 | 6-4, 7-6(3) |
| Won v | Khachanov K.Shanghai · 13.10.26 | 6-3, 6-4 |
| Won v | Sakamoto R.Shanghai · 11.10.26 | 7-6(6), 6-4 |
| Won v | Molcan A.Shanghai · 09.10.26 | |
| Lost to | Djokovic N.Beijing · 06.10.26 | 7-6(3), 0-1 ret. |
| Won v | Hurkacz H.Beijing · 05.10.26 | 6-4, 3-2 ret. |
| Won v | Rublev A.Beijing · 04.10.26 | 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 |
| Won v | Halys Q.Beijing · 03.10.26 | 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-5 |
| Won v | Navone M.Beijing · 01.10.26 | 7-6(4), 6-2 |
| Won v | Zverev A.Laver Cup · 26.09.26 | 2-6, 7-6(5), 11-9 |
| Won v | Majchrzak K.Davis Cup · 20.09.26 | 6-3, 6-3 |
Our take Sinner's knee helps Djokovic most
| Stat | Zverev | de Minaur |
|---|---|---|
| Season record | 61-15 (better) | 44-19 |
| On hard courts | 30-9 (better) | 26-10 |
| Last 10 matches | 8-2 | 9-1 (better) |
| As favourite | 60-9 (better) | 41-16 |
| As underdog | 1-6 | 3-3 (better) |
| Stat | Zverev | de Minaur |
|---|---|---|
| Matches (W-L) | 10 (8-2) | 10 (8-2) |
| Aces per match | 11.6 (better) | 5.5 |
| Double faults per match | 2.2 (better) | 2.4 |
| 1st serve in | 72.4% (better) | 58.4% |
| 1st serve points won | 79.0% (better) | 71.2% |
| 2nd serve points won | 57.2% | 58.0% (better) |
| Service games held | 93.4% (better) | 82.2% |
| Break points saved | 65.4% | 71.6% (better) |
| Stat | Zverev | de Minaur |
|---|---|---|
| Return points won | 33.8% | 37.6% (better) |
| Return games won | 16.5% | 21.0% (better) |
| Break points converted | 40.0% | 43.9% (better) |
Form rows: 2026 season to 14 October (Tennis Explorer). Serve and return: last 10 tour matches with stats, Alexander Zverev 31.08.2026–07.10.2026, Alex de Minaur 13.08.2026–07.10.2026.. We read the data from Tennis Explorer, Tennis Abstract and the WTA and ATP tours, and form our own view.
| 2026 | De MinaurLaver Cup · Hard · RR | 2-6 7-6(5) [11-9] |
| 2025 | De MinaurLaver Cup · Hard · RR | 6-1 6-4 |
| 2024 | ZverevRoland Garros · Clay · QF | 6-4 7-6(5) 6-4 |
| 2024 | ZverevIndian Wells Masters · Hard · R16 | 5-7 6-2 6-3 |
| 2024 | De MinaurUnited Cup · Hard · SF | 5-7 6-3 6-4 |
| 2022 | ZverevRome Masters · Clay · R16 | 6-3 7-6(5) |
| 2021 | ZverevVienna · Hard · R16 | 6-2 3-6 6-2 |
| 2020 | De MinaurAtp Cup · Hard · RR | 4-6 7-6(3) 6-2 |
| 2019 | ZverevAcapulco · Hard · QF | 6-4 6-4 |
| 2018 | ZverevShanghai Masters · Hard · R16 | 6-1 6-4 |
| 2018 | ZverevWashington · Hard · F | 6-2 6-4 |
| 2018 | ZverevDavis Cup WG R1: AUS vs GER · Hard · RR | 7-5 4-6 4-6 6-3 7-6(4) |
| Source | Their view | Versus us |
|---|---|---|
| Tennis Abstract Elo (tournament forecast) | Zverev 64.2% to reach the semi-finals | Same side |
Zverev in three sets
Zverev’s serve should carry him: 11.6 aces a match and 93.4% of service games held over his last ten matches, against de Minaur’s 5.5 and 82.2%. De Minaur is the better returner (21.0% of return games won against 16.5%) and makes opponents run, which is exactly what a sore ankle does not want. We expect tight sets and tie-breaks, as in Zverev’s last two matches: 7:6, 4:6, 6:4. If the ankle limits his movement, a de Minaur win in two sets is the other real outcome.
Zverev to win, analysis only
Zverev is the right side on serve, ranking and form, but his ankle has troubled him in all three Shanghai matches and de Minaur has won their last two meetings, so we are not sure enough of the result to stake on it.
What would change our mind Any news about Zverev’s ankle before the match: heavy strapping, a cancelled practice or words from his team.