Schwartzman Upsets Fritz, Rublev Books Fourth Round Spot In Shanghai

Peter Staples/ATP Tour

Diego Schwartzman won three consecutive matches for the first time since May 2022 on Monday when he upset World No. 8 Taylor Fritz 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5) at the Rolex Shanghai Masters.

The Argentine wild card has endured a modest season by his standards, arriving in Shanghai 9-22 on the year. However, he has looked close to his best at the hard-court event and backed up wins against Luca Van Assche and Jiri Lehecka with a consistent returning display in his meeting with Fritz.

The 31-year-old won 54 per cent (22/41) of points on Fritz’s second serve to earn his first Top 10 win since April in 2022, when he beat then-World No. 9 Felix Auger-Aliassime in Barcelona.

"I think since Roland Garros my tennis was changing. I was winning at least one match in every single tournament," Schwartzman said. "Obviously this is not my year, so that is why that at the end of the year to have these kinds of tournaments is great. Not many tournaments to come, but it is going to make a difference.

Schwartzman, who is up to No. 108 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, will next play Nicolas Jarry in the fourth round after the Chilean defeated Lorenzo Sonego 7-6(4), 6-2.

Fritz's defeat is a dent to his Nitto ATP Finals hopes. The American is ninth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin, 235 points behind eighth-placed Holger Rune, who is in the final qualification spot.

Andrey Rublev also advanced, brushing aside Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-0 to end the Frenchman’s eight-match winning run. Rublev struck 35 winners and committed just five unforced errors to seal his spot in the fourth round after 63 minutes.

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The fifth seed now holds a 15-6 record at ATP Masters 1000 events this season, highlighted by his title run in Monte-Carlo.

Rublev is aiming to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals and is currently fifth in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin. He will next play 11th-placed Tommy Paul, who is seeking a deep run in Shanghai to boost his own hopes.