Alexander Zverev and Alexander Bublik go head-to-head for the fifth time in their careers as they battle for a spot in the Shanghai Masters quarterfinals on Tuesday. This is our quick preview with some predictions.
Alexander Zverev vs Alexander Bublik
Zverev is the top seed in Shanghai and a double Grand Slam champion this year after Roland Garros and the US Open. Following Alcaraz surprise loss to Bergs, the German has now clinched the ATP Year-End No. 1 ranking. More on Zverev’s racquet and gear.
He hasn’t looked invincible in Asia though, losing to Djokovic in Beijing last week. In Shanghai he’s been solid without being spectacular, beating Wu Yibing 6-4, 7-6(4) and then needing three sets to get past Quentin Halys 6-4, 6-7(8), 6-3.
Bublik, ranked No. 22, has made it this far the hard way. He beat Tomas Machac 6-4, 7-6(4) and then survived Brandon Nakashima 6-7(7), 6-3, 7-6(5), a match that included a few racquet smashes and a fist into a drinks cooler that left his right hand bleeding and needing treatment. He kept going regardless.
It’s been a decent year for the Kazakh, who won the Hong Kong title in January. Check out Bublik’s racquet project with Diadem, btw.
H2H
Bublik leads the head-to-head 3-1, but it’s an old one, and they haven’t played since 2023. He won in Rotterdam in 202, and in the Montpellier final in 2022 and in the Halle semifinals in 2023. Zverev’s only win came in Monte Carlo that April, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Predictions and best bets
They haven’t faced off since 2023 so the H2H might not be that important. Both players have improved significantly since then, but Zverev’s consistency, higher ceiling and baseline control should see him through, even if the fast courts will help Bublik keep it tight.
My bet: Zverev to win in three sets
