Alexander Zverev will face Alex De Minaur for a spot in the Shanghai Masters semi-finals after he survived a scare against Alexander Bublik on Tuesday. 

Zverev was playing in his first match since it was confirmed he would be the year-end number one, but he was put through his paces on his way to a 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 7-6 (7-1) victory. 

Both players traded blows during an engrossing first set, with Zverev and Bublik missing chances to break before a tie-break would decide who would get themselves in front. 

The top seed found himself 4-1 down, but roared back to take the first set by saving three set points along the way, but a break in the fifth game of the second saw Bublik ensure the match would go the distance. 

Bublik and Zverev traded breaks at the beginning of the third set, but another tie-break was needed to split the two players, and it was the German who cruised to the finish line. 

Zverev reeled off the final five points and sealed his progression on serve, firing a blistering ace past Bublik, with his reward a clash with De Minaur in the last eight in Shanghai. 

Quarter finalist! Incoming world number one is down to the last 8 in Shanghai @SH_RolexMasters | #RolexShanghaiMasters | @AlexZverev https://t.co/Twp6LF1DJW

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 13, 2026

De Minaur enjoyed a more comfortable outing against Karen Khachanov, needing one hour and 25 minutes to confirm an impressive 6-3 6-4 win over the 26th seed. 

But Jakub Mensik will not be joining Zverev and De Minaur in the next round after Arthur Gea battled to a 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 win. 

Zverev's fine form lands another quarter-final spot

After learning he would end 2026 at the top of the ATP rankings, Zverev did not let that distract him as he overcame a difficult opponent in Bublik to progress in Shanghai. 

And in doing so, Zverev has reached a 40th quarter-final at an ATP Masters 1000 event. Among currently active players, only Novak Djokovic (97) has managed to reach more. 

Since the start of the decade, only Jannik Sinner (122) has claimed more main-draw match wins in ATP Masters 1000 events than Zverev's 121, though he could surpass the Italian, who is ruled out for the rest of the year through injury. 

It was also Zverev's 61st ATP-level match win this season, more than any other player. His 23 victories in ATP Masters 1000 matches in 2026 are only bettered by Sinner (29).