Alexander Zverev admitted he "overachieved" by reaching the Shanghai Masters semi-finals despite fatigue from a demanding schedule. The German was broken to trail 2-0 in the third set against Davidovich Fokina, who advanced to his first ATP Masters 1000 final since 2022. Zverev struggled with energy levels following his grueling win over Alexander Bublik at the US Open, admitting he was "flat" and returning badly in the semi-final defeat.
He credited his busy calendar for his physical state, stating he had only one day off after the US Open. Although the loss ended his run, Zverev enjoyed a breakthrough season, claiming his first Grand Slam title at the French Open in June and a second at the US Open in September. Davidovich Fokina will face fellow Spaniard Rafael Jodar in the final on Sunday.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing