World No. 3 Alexander Zverev crashed out of the Shanghai Masters against Arthur Rinderknech in the round of 32 on Monday, but the big story was not just his shocking defeat. The brutal playing conditions at the Chinese venue grabbed headlines as the Frenchman voiced his frustration against the ‘tough’ conditions.
What Did Arthur Rinderknech Say After Defeating Alexander Zverev at Shanghai Masters?
Rinderknech pulled off another upset at the Shanghai Masters against Zverev. The French player came from a set down to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the round of 32 match. It took the 30-year-old two hours and 15 minutes to beat the German star for the second time this year.
Zverev made a strong start, breaking Rinderknech’s serve in the third game to take the first set. The world No. 3 looked comfortable early on, but things changed quickly in the second set as the humid conditions started taking their toll.
The French player found his rhythm in the second set, breaking Zverev in the fourth game to level the match. “Starting in the second set… I was able to be offensive at the right moment, in a smarter way,” he explained.
The third set showed just how much the conditions were affecting Zverev. The German stopped play to change his shoes because sweat was pouring out of them. The humidity was so bad that fans in the crowd were using cool packs on their heads. Even switching shoes didn’t help Zverev, as he hit a double fault in the seventh game that gave Rinderknech another break.
30 year-old Arthur Rinderknech gets a 3rd career top 10 win, all in 2025 and second against Alexander Zverev.
Defeats the world #3 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to reach the last 16 in Shanghai against Lehecka.
He will return to the top 50 next Monday.
Zverev’s season… isn’t getting better. pic.twitter.com/dPLL6GhXF9
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) October 6, 2025
Following the match, the Frenchman talked about the weather conditions that are affecting the gameplay at the Masters 1000 event. “It’s tough. It’s tough for everyone, you’ve seen it. 50% of the matches are not finishing, and 50% of the matches are finishing with the guys getting cramps or vomiting. We’re using an incredible amount of shirts, and thankfully, the laundry is working really well. I’m going to have a lot of laundry for the next one for sure.”
The Harsh Conditions at Shanghai Masters
The Shanghai Masters has seen many upsets and player retirements because of the tough conditions. With humidity reaching nearly 86 percent and temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, which is equivalent to 86 degrees Fahrenheit, many top players were unable to complete their matches.
Defending champion Jannik Sinner had to retire from his match against Tallon Griekspoor on Sunday. The world No. 2 was trailing when leg cramps forced him to stop after two hours and 40 minutes. Terence Atmane also pulled out of his first match due to heat stress, saying his body gave up after just two games.
Hamad Medjedovic couldn’t continue after winning the first set and stopped playing against Rinderknech in the first round. Before quitting, cameras caught him telling officials: “How can you let us play in these conditions, under this roof, there is no air.”
Rinderknech is set to make his third appearance in the round of 16 of a Masters 1000 event against Jiri Lehecka on Wednesday.
