Shanghai Open 2023: Holger Rune and Alexander Zverev suffer shock exits as Zhang Zhizhen makes history

Holger Rune and Alexander Zverev were beaten in straight sets at the Shanghai Masters on Friday as Zhang Zhizhen made history on home turf.

The Chinese player became the first home player to reach the third round of the tournament when he beat 28th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

Zhang edged out Etcheverry 4-6 6-3 6-4 in a thrilling two hour 28 minute encounter.

“First set I was down and he had a break,” Zhang said after the match. “I told myself, second set I still have a chance.

“I just tried to hold my service games and see if I could break him. First set my return was not working well, so I changed my position a bit and I’m happy to win the match of course.

“It’s a first-time experience for me. Everything is new. I just try to take it, these are not bad things [that are happening]. So why not just take it [as it goes] and enjoy it?”

Zhang will take on Brandon Nakashima in the next round, who overcame Holger Rune in the biggest shock of the second round.

The 122nd-ranked American beat the third seed 6-0 6-2 in a dominant display.

The loss is a blow to Rune’s chances of qualifying for the ATP Finals in Turin – which he is hoping to play for the first time – after winning just one match of seven since reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals.

German Zverev joined Rune as a high-profile exit when he lost out to No. 50-ranked Roman Safiullin 6-3 6-1 in equally destructive fashion.

Safiullin got the better of Andy Murray in the first round before firing 32 winners to upset ninth seed Zverev.

In another notable exit, there was a disappointing result for Felix Auger-Aliassime who was beaten by Marton Fucsovics 7-6(3) 4-6 6-3.

Hubert Hurkacz scraped past Thanasi Kokkinakis 7-6(5) 6-4, while Lorenzo Musetti also fell to a second-round defeat, losing to qualifier Hsu Yu Hsiou 6-3 6-4.