Alexander Zverev beat Alexander Bublik 7-6 (6), 4-6, 7-6 (1) on Tuesday to reach the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters, Sky Sports and The Associated Press reported.

It was the German's first match since he clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking on Monday. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is out for the rest of 2026 with a knee injury, and Carlos Alcaraz cannot pass Zverev this year, Sky Sports reported. Zverev won the French Open and the U.S. Open this year, The Associated Press reported. It was only his second win over Bublik in five meetings, the news agency said.

The match lasted two hours and 41 minutes, the tournament reported, and Bublik had four set points in the first set but could not convert any of them. He then won the second set by breaking Zverev's serve, while Zverev repeatedly held his right ankle. Zverev recovered from a break down in the third set and won the deciding tiebreak 7-1.

"My ankle was acting up, unfortunately," Zverev said, The Associated Press reported. "I am starting to feel my body more and more but I am happy to get through."

Speaking about the top ranking, he said, "To finish the world No 1 is a different kind of feeling," Sky Sports reported. He added that it brings a different kind of responsibility.

This is Zverev's 40th quarterfinal at a Masters 1000 event, and he is chasing his first title in Shanghai. He will next face ninth seed Alex de Minaur of Australia, who beat Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-4. De Minaur reached the final in Beijing last week and has not dropped a set in Shanghai, according to the tournament, which noted that he is fighting for one of the final qualification spots for the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin.

What we know: Zverev reached the Shanghai quarterfinals and will play De Minaur next.
What we don't: How serious his ankle problem is.