Alexander Zverev in action during his men's singles match against Alexander Bublik at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai. (EPA Images pic)SHANGHAI: Top-seeded Alexander Zverev toughed out two tie-breaks to beat Alexander Bublik 7-6 (8/6), 4-6, 7-6 (7/1) at the Shanghai Masters on Tuesday, winning his first match since being guaranteed the year-end world number one ranking.
The 29-year-old German will play Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals.
"I had some physical issues, so, you know, I was maybe slower," he told the crowd.
"My ankle was acting up, unfortunately, again," Zverev elaborated in an on-court interview, without giving specifics.
