In a match that unfolded with the kind of efficiency one expects from a top seed, Alexander Zverev dispatched qualifier Valentin Royer 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday at the ATP Shanghai Masters. The third-ranked German, looking to shake off a patchy few weeks, never really let the 24-year-old Frenchman gain a foothold on the hard courts of the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena.
Zverev's serve proved the difference early on. He fired down eight aces and converted three of his five break-point chances, keeping Royer on the defensive throughout. Indeed, the first set saw Zverev break at 3-3 after a scrappy exchange at the net, then hold firm to pocket it. The second followed a similar script—Royer fought back from 0-40 in the eighth game, but Zverev's baseline solidity wore him down. It was over in under 90 minutes, a clinical display that belied the world No. 3's recent stumbles.
Royer, ranked 76th, had entered the fray with some momentum. Fresh off a runner-up finish in Hangzhou last week—where he fell to Alexander Bublik in a tight final—the Parisian qualifier had already navigated a three-set thriller against Mariano Navone in the opener. Yet against Zverev, his aggressive returns couldn't quite crack the code. He managed just 58% first-serve points won, and errors crept in at key moments. For a player who's spent much of 2025 grinding Challengers, this was a valiant effort, but one that highlighted the chasm between rising talents and the elite.
Zverev's victory sets up a potential third-round clash with either Alex de Minaur or another qualifier, a matchup that could test his resolve further. Coming off a third-round exit at the US Open to Felix Auger-Aliassime and losses to de Minaur and Taylor Fritz at the Laver Cup, the 28-year-old admitted his back issues have been nagging—calling them "quite annoying" in pre-tournament remarks. Still, this win injects some much-needed confidence as he eyes a deep run in what could be a wide-open draw, especially with Carlos Alcaraz sidelined.
However, Royer's run wasn't without its positives; he showed flashes of the power game that's pushed him into the spotlight lately. Moreover, for Zverev, advancing here feels like a reset, though questions linger about sustaining that form. As Shanghai heats up, one wonders if this straightforward afternoon will mark the turning point in his season.