Alexander Zverev required a medical time-out in the final game due to a toe problem before completing a winning start into the Shanghai Masters, 6-4, 6-4 over Frenchman Valentin Royer on Saturday. Third seed Zverev felt a sudden sharp pain in his right toe and limped to the bench, but after brief treatment he served out the second round match in 1 hour 38 minutes.
Alexander Zverev required a medical time-out in the final game due to a toe problem before completing a winning start into the Shanghai Masters, 6-4, 6-4 over Frenchman Valentin Royer on Saturday.
Third seed Zverev felt a sudden sharp pain in his right toe and limped to the bench, but after brief treatment he served out the second round match in 1 hour 38 minutes.
Zverev, who had a first-round bye, next faces another French player in Arthur Rinderknech, who caused a big upset when he beat the German in the Wimbledon first round.
"I landed funny on my toe and after that I could barely do a step, so we’ll see what it is. Not happy to end the match like that, of course, but I think definitely happy with the level. That was quite good," the ATP website quoted Zverev as saying.
"We will see if I will ever be healthy this year again, because it’s been a struggle. But I’m happy to be through."
Zverev has been plagued by back problems for months which affect his serve and rotation movements. He has been given injections and reduced training.
Zeverev said before his first match in Shanghai that "it is difficult to keep it all under control" while also lamenting a full calendar.
He did however play at the Laver Cup exhibition event in San Francisco in September and also plans to be at another exhibition event later in October, the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia.
World number two Jannik Sinner meanwhile started his title defence with a routine 6-3, 6-3 victory over another German, Daniel Altmaier, also needing 1:38 for victory.
Altmaier upset Sinner in their last meeting at the 2023 French Open but three breaks of serve saw the Italian comfortably through.
Sinner is the highest ranked player in Shanghai after the short notice withdrawal of world number one Carlos Alcaraz for injury reasons.
Australian world number seven Alex de Minaur posted a personal season record 48th victory, 6-4, 6-2 over Ugo Carabelli; and Canada's Felix Auger-Alliasime beat qualifier Alejandro Tabilo 6-3, 6-3.
"I'm happy with myself. It's a great achievement to show the consistency,” De Minaur said. "There's still a lot of tennis to be played, so hopefully I can keep adding wins to that tally."
Former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev also reached the third round, 6-1, 6-1 over Dalibor Svrcina.
Category: General Sports
