World number two Alexander Zverev expressed that he "overachieved" at the Shanghai Masters after reaching the semi-finals, despite battling fatigue from a packed competition schedule.

On Saturday, Zverev, the top seed, fell to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in a surprising match that ended with scores of 5-7, 6-4, 6-3. This marked only the second victory for Davidovich Fokina in eight encounters against Zverev.

Zverev, who is set to finish the season as world number one, acknowledged the physical toll of recent tournaments, stating:

I carried a little bit of injury, I carried fatigue into the tournament, and I'm OK to lose to a player like this today. First, I'm not a robot, I'm a human being, I get tired.

During the match, Zverev struggled with his forehand, leading to a crucial break that allowed Davidovich Fokina to take control. After trailing 2-0 in the third set, Zverev could not regain momentum, allowing the 25th seed to advance to his first ATP Masters 1000 final since 2022.

Reflecting on his performance, Zverev noted:

I personally feel like I was quite flat since the Bublik match, because I was losing energy. Even in the first set, even though I won the set, I was flatter, I was not reacting so well.

Despite the semi-final loss, Zverev's season remains impressive, having secured his first Grand Slam title at the French Open in June and a second at the US Open in September.

Davidovich Fokina will face fellow Spaniard Rafael Jodar in the final on Sunday.