Third-seeded Alexander Zverev was ousted (4-6, 6-3, 6-2) by 54th-ranked Arthur Rinderknech in his opening match in Shanghai on Monday. The German was the highest-ranked player left in the draw, and initially, it looked like he was in control after taking the first set. But to the horror of many, he struggled the rest of the match.

He couldn’t break serve, and Rinderknech finally walked away with a victory in a contest that went on for over two hours. Zverev also fell to Rinderknech in the first round at Wimbledon this year. Now, while the French player is elated about his latest achievement, Zverev is facing his worst season in the past few years.

He is on the brink of creating his worst win/loss ratio since 2020.

In the 69 contests he has played this year, he has lost 21. That means his loss percentage is at 30.43%. Interestingly, since 2020, that figure had almost always been below 30%. The 2023 season is an exception, when the tennis player lost 32.93% of the matches he played in.

And so, it looks like his fans are catching onto this. That’s the reason many were furious and took to social media to bash him. However, that’s not the only cause of outrage. Zverev may have said something before his contest against Rinderknech, which upset many fans.

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Here’s what happened: Roger Federer had introduced the theory that tournament organizers were recreating the same court speed so that it would help Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Well, Zverev endorsed that idea and said, “No, I hate when it’s [court speeds] the same, to be honest.

“And I know that the tournament directors are going towards that direction because obviously they want Jannik and Carlos to do well every tournament and that’s what they prefer.”

When Jannik Sinner was informed about the German’s statement, he simply stated that he and Alcaraz did not make the courts. It was a done and dusted conversation for the players, but not for the fans.

After the 28-year-old’s latest loss, fans couldn’t help but backtrack to the statement he made earlier this week. What did fans say?

Fans voice ruthless opinions about Alexander Zverev’s Shanghai exit

Zverev was proven wrong after Sinner himself had to retire prematurely due to the heat and humidity. He experienced extreme cramping while playing against Tallon Griekspoor. Add Zverev’s own loss into the mix, and his statement aged like milk.

Here’s what fans wrote on social media:

• “Alexander Zverev should retire. He is finished.”
• “@AlexZverev Alexander Zverev claims tournament organisers are deliberately slowing down courts to favour the world’s top two Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. You lost to Arthur Rinderknech what are you talking about you are so f****** bad you should stop playing tennis…”

And because he lost to Rinderknech twice this year, fans were not ready to take Zverev seriously.

• “Alexander Zverev is so sorry dude cannot speak on another player, he can’t even compete with Rinderknech.”
• “You should retire.”

But to give credit where it’s due, Rinderknech put his best foot forward during the match. Once he found his rhythm, he stormed the net like he owned it.

He won 24 of 29 points up front in sets two and three and looked fresh in the decider as Zverev gasped between points. The 30-year-old has now notched a career-best 23 wins in 2025 and reached the fourth round of a Masters 1000 for the third time. Not bad for someone who’s 3-18 against Top 10 opponents.

• “Alexander Zverev thinks tournament directors pace the courts to favour jannik and Alcaraz when he can’t even beat Arthur Rinderknech.”

Now, the German heads out of Shanghai, sitting fourth in the ATP Live Race To Turin. He’s still a comfortable 1,475 points ahead of 10th-placed Felix Auger-Aliassime, the first man outside the Top 8 cut, with ninth-placed Jack Draper done for the season. But being a two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion, Zverev still holds his destiny firmly in his hands.

Next up is the exhibition in Riyadh at the Six Kings Slam! What do you think will happen? Share your thoughts in the comments below!