I just don’t appreciate that kind of behavior”: Alexander Zverev criticized by his latest Shanghai opponent

Friday, 09 October 2026 at 21:00

Wu Yibing has questioned Alexander Zverev's conduct after losing a tight match at the Shanghai Masters, saying he enjoyed facing Carlos Alcaraz more because the Spaniard presented a bigger challenge. The Chinese player acknowledged Zverev's serving strength but argued that several incidents during their second-round encounter were unnecessary and made the contest less enjoyable.

Zverev defeated Wu 6-4, 7-6(4) on Friday, October 9, taking one hour and 36 minutes to advance to the third round. The world No. 2 faced sustained resistance from the home wildcard, who kept the second set close despite the German's ability to dictate points behind his serve.

The match became particularly tense late in the second set, when Zverev fell while moving across the court at 5-5. Wu also pointed to complaints about the lighting and an issue involving the net tape, arguing that such interruptions affected the nature of the contest. His criticism concerned how he interpreted those moments, rather than Zverev's quality as a player.

For Wu, the defeat was another opportunity to test himself against one of the leading players on tour. He is trying to rebuild his ranking after reaching a career-high No. 54 in 2023 and now sits just outside the top 100 in the live rankings. Zverev, meanwhile, moves on to face Frenchman Quentin Halys in the third round.

Wu questions Zverev's conduct despite praising his serve

Wu was clear that the German's game presented a significant challenge, particularly because of his ability to win points quickly behind the first serve. However, he felt the match included unnecessary incidents that affected his experience on court.

“I definitely enjoyed the match with Alcaraz more because it was a bigger challenge. Today, the main challenge was just dealing with his serve—he has such a strong serve and great first-strike ability.”

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The Chinese player then explained what he disliked about the match, including the fall, complaints about the lights and the interaction with the net tape. Wu suggested that these moments were intended to interrupt his rhythm, although that was his interpretation of Zverev's actions.

“But there were some little incidents during the match... falling down, complaining about the lights, messing with the net tape. I feel like some of that really wasn't necessary."

"Relatively speaking, it wasn't such a 'pure' competition. Of course, he only did those things to break the rhythm and adjust his mood because I was putting pressure on him," the 26-year-old Chinese player added. "Even though I didn't get distracted, personally, I just don't appreciate that kind of behavior."

Zverev's fall occurred when he was leading 6-4, 5-5 and had a break point on Wu's serve. He stumbled after striking a backhand and appeared to tweak his left ankle but recovered after a brief pause and continued without taking a medical timeout. He subsequently closed out the match in the tiebreak.

Despite the disappointment, Wu said the match reinforced his belief that he can compete with elite opponents.

“Of course,” Wu said when asked whether the performance strengthened his belief that he belongs at the top level. “I had multiple chances to play the best players in the world this year, and I think I showed myself, and also the world, that I could play great tennis, even against the best players in the world.”

Wu has already faced Zverev and Alcaraz before

The Shanghai match was the second meeting between Wu and Zverev, although their first encounter in Geneva in 2023 was brief. Zverev led 4-1 in the quarterfinal before Wu retired after just five games. Their contest in China was therefore their first completed match, with the German now holding a 2-0 head-to-head advantage.

Wu has also faced Alcaraz twice. The Spaniard won their first meeting in Shanghai in 2024, 7-6(5), 6-3, before defeating him again in the third round of the US Open in September, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1. Alcaraz has therefore won all five sets they have played, although Wu's comparison was about the challenge and experience of the matches rather than the results.

The 26-year-old Chinese player has enjoyed significant achievements in his career. He won the Dallas Open in 2023 after saving four championship points against John Isner in a deciding-set tiebreak, becoming the first Chinese man to win an ATP Tour singles title. He also collected two silver medals at the Asian Games and reached the third round of the US Open and Shanghai Masters.

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His current priority is to restore his ranking to the top 100 after a difficult period that saw him fall well below his career high. A strong finish to the season would give him a platform to rebuild in 2027.

For Zverev, the immediate focus is Halys and a place in the Shanghai third round. For Wu, the result offered further evidence that he can push elite opponents, even in defeat. His comments, however, ensured the match was about more than the score: he wanted to make clear that, in his view, the tennis itself should remain the main focus.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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