Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton start up Shanghai Masters campaigns in fine fashion

The Shanghai Masters second round matches are underway, and the biggest names in tennis are in action. There is no problem for the US Open finalists Alexander Zverev and Ben Shelton, who both managed to breeze through their matches without dropping a set.

After sharing that magnificent battle on Arthur Ashe Stadium, they have gone their separate ways. Zverev has competed in the Davis Cup, Laver Cup and China Open, with his progress severely halted against a certain Novak Djokovic in Beijing. The 2019 finalist is back in Shanghai and is back winning, with home favourite Yibing Wu taken down 6-4, 7-6(4).

The first set mostly consisted of comfortable holds of serve. It was not a trend that lasted too long, with Zverev flexing his muscles early doors. A clinical break saw him move 2-1 to the good, and it was instantly backed up with a hold to love.

He had another brace of chances to extend his lead, but Wu held firm and stayed just a single break behind. In turn, the Chinese created no response and fell to a one-set deficit against the No.1 seed.

Zverev can soar to the top of the rankings in the coming weeks thanks to Jannik Sinner’s injury layoff. He would adore a first Masters 1000 title since the 2024 Paris Masters to aid that process, and he looked good to be heading on his way to the third round after breaking right at the start of the second set.

However, this time Wu was on hand to respond. Three games later, he created his first break point chance of the match and converted it to stand a chance once more. Both players were fine on serve until at 5-5 Zverev had a golden opportunity to put himself in a set winning position. Wu rebuffed his efforts and a tiebreak was confirmed.

Zverev seized control of it and went on to complete the contest. It was a lot tighter than he would have hoped, but he is in the third round with Quentin Halys his next task.

Shelton has disappeared as of late from the action. His negative results at the Davis Cup may have been hampered by the sheer amount of tennis he had played. A Canadian Open title and first Grand Slam final took its toll, and he withdrew from the Laver Cup and Japan Open. He is back, and with a lot of motivation to get back to those heights he once was at. It has started with a bang, seeing off Daniel Altmaier 6-3, 7-6(6), all on his 24th birthday.

We were very close to seeing Holger Rune take on the American No.1, but a stunning comeback by the German prevented that from occurring. It was him who had the first chances to break in the match, going 15-40 to the good in the fifth game but failing to take his chance.

Shelton replied in ruthless fashion, breaking to love. A tight service game backed up the break, and two holds to love later, the World No.4 was a set to the good.

He put the pressure on the Altmaier serve, finally breaking with a third break point in the set to move 4-3 ahead. It seemed like that could be it for Altmaier, but he was not done and out yet. The 28-year-old got the match back on serve before overcoming two more break points en route to a tiebreak.

The 2023 quarter-finalist sailed into a 3-0 lead, but it would be made much closer by Altmaier, who stormed 5-4 ahead. Shelton created the first match point, but a second go at it proved more successful, and he was in the third round. He will take on Frenchman Arthur Gea, who dumped out Ugo Humbert in three sets.