Hubert Hurkacz delivered a stunning upset at the Shanghai Masters, defeating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-3 in the second round on Friday. This victory marks Hurkacz’s first win over the four-time champion, who had previously held an 8-0 record against him. The match lasted one hour and 27 minutes, showcasing Hurkacz’s powerful performance with 13 aces and 28 winners.
Djokovic entered the tournament fresh off a record seventh title at the China Open but faced a challenging season, including an early exit at the US Open. The defeat in Shanghai adds to his struggles, as he has not won the title since 2018. Hurkacz, a former world number six, has now extended his winning streak in Shanghai to eight matches and will next face either Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti or China’s Zhou Yi.
Zverev Advances in Title Chase
Meanwhile, top seed Alexander Zverev continued his pursuit of the year-end world number one ranking by defeating local favorite Wu Yibing 6-4, 7-6(4). Zverev, currently ranked second in the world, can secure the top spot by reaching the semi-finals in Shanghai or if his closest competitors, Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton, are eliminated at any stage of the tournament.
Despite a minor injury scare during the match, when he slipped and fell while serving at 5-5 in the second set, Zverev recovered to win the tiebreak and advance to face Frenchman Quentin Halys. Earlier in the day, US Open runner-up Ben Shelton celebrated his 24th birthday with a victory over German Daniel Altmaier, winning 6-3, 7-6(6). However, Roland Garros finalist Flavio Cobolli’s journey ended as he lost to Frenchman Adrian Mannarino.
As the tournament progresses, the stakes are high for Zverev and Hurkacz, both aiming to solidify their positions in the competitive landscape of men’s tennis. For more details, visit Emirates247.
