Australia's No.1 reckons he's feeling better every day despite it being just over a week since he was forced to retire with an adductor injury during the China Open final against Novak Djokovic, and he's looking forward to the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters where Zverev awaits on Thursday.
Now, though, it gets tough again. Zverev, guaranteed to become the end-of-year world No.1 following the season-ending knee injury to Jannik Sinner, has beaten de Minaur in all eight of the matches they've played in ATP tournaments and the Davis Cup.
The only times the Australian has prevailed have been the four occasions when they've duelled in minor team events -- at the early-season ATP Cup and United Cup, when they were both far from their sharpest, and at the Laver Cup, which can never quite shake off the feel of being a glorified exhibition event.
De Minaur has won their last two matches, both in the Laver Cup, with the last coming less than three weeks ago in London.
"Zverev, number one player in the world, he's played incredible this whole year, with an immense amount of confidence. He's the most in-form player, for sure," conceded de Minaur as he pondered the prospect of their 13th meeting being an unlucky one for the 2026 French Open and US Open champion.
This might be the perfect time to tackle Zverev, who while exultant to learn that he's about to become the world No.1 before the season's out, admitted he's feeling weary and has been struggling with ankle and foot discomfort after a hectic 2026 program that's featured a Wimbledon final appearance too.
Of his recovery since the disappointment of the Beijing final retirement, de Minaur said after his win over Karen Khachanov in the last round: "It's been feeling better and better every single day. It's been eight days since that (Djokovic) match, I've been doing everything in my power to feel better each and every day.
"Today (against Khachanov) was by far the best day."
On the other side of the draw, Daniil Medvedev made the quarters by defeating old rival Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4 7-5.
Like de Minaur, Medvedev is battling to make it into the eight-man ATP Finals in Turin, and both of their hopes were boosted by the misfortune of Felix Auger-Aliassime, who had to retire with an apparent knee problem when trailing 5-2 to Casper Ruud in the first set of their match.
De Minaur is seventh in the live 'race to Turin' standings -- effectively sixth as the injured Sinner won't be competing in his home tournament -- but he'll go ahead of Auger-Aliassime if he beats Zverev.
Elsewhere, Spain's rising star Rafael Jodar also made the last-eight, ousting Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-2 -- his third comeback from a set down this week. He'll next meet Ruud.
Medvedev will face American Tommy Paul, who defeated Belgian Zizou Bergs, the conqueror of Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (7-5) 6-4.
