Alejandro Davidovich Fokina rallied from a set and a break down to beat countryman Rafael Jodar 1-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 and win the Shanghai Masters on Sunday, claiming his third title of the year and the biggest of his career. The all-Spanish final was played at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena in Shanghai, China.
A Third Set for the Ages
Jodar came out firing, breaking twice to close out the opening set in just 27 minutes behind a string of unforced errors from his more experienced rival. Davidovich Fokina then found his range, saving break points to force a tiebreak he won to level the match before breaking serve immediately in the decider.
The Spaniard needed a similar fighting spirit against Zverev just a day earlier, and the pattern held: Davidovich Fokina closed out the biggest win of his life on his second match point after Jodar could not return serve.
Davidovich Fokina's Long Road to a Maiden Masters 1000
Three Comebacks in Four Days
The title completed a remarkable week for the 27-year-old, who saved a match point against Frances Tiafoe in the third round and rallied from a set down to beat both Hubert Hurkacz and top seed Alexander Zverev en route to the final. He also advanced in the quarterfinals when Frenchman Arthur Gea retired while trailing.
From Heartbreak to Redemption
Davidovich Fokina had lost his first five career finals, including his only previous Masters 1000 final at Monte-Carlo in 2022. His turnaround this season included titles on grass in Mallorca and at an ATP 250 event in Chengdu, extending his winning streak on Chinese soil to ten matches. The Shanghai trophy will send him to a career-high No. 13 in the rankings.
Rafael Jodar's Breakout Week, On and Off the Court
The 20-year-old Jodar arrived in the final as the story of the tournament, having beaten former champion Daniil Medvedev in the semifinal to become the youngest finalist in the event's history. It was his first appearance in a Masters 1000 final, and he looked the part through a dominant opening set before Davidovich Fokina's experience tipped the balance.
The Ball Kid Controversy
Jodar's run through the draw was overshadowed by an incident during his fourth-round match against Botic van de Zandschulp, when he was heard shouting and using offensive language toward a ball kid while demanding his towel. Chair umpire Jimmy Pinoargote, who understands Spanish, immediately issued a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct, which Jodar initially disputed before the official explained that such behavior toward court staff was unacceptable. Jodar recovered to win that match and later apologized publicly after his next victory, over Casper Ruud.
Federation Support Amid Scrutiny
Spanish Tennis Federation president Miguel Diaz publicly backed the young player on social media following the apology, saying “I’m telling you, he’s a wonderful person. I’ve known him since he was very young.” It was not the first time Jodar had faced criticism over his conduct toward court staff, having previously been scrutinized at the French Open over a separate incident involving a ball girl.
What Comes Next
Despite the final defeat, Jodar's run in Shanghai, which included beating Medvedev, keeps him firmly inside the top tier of the ATP Tour as he continues his first full season among the sport's elite. Davidovich Fokina, meanwhile, will carry his career-high ranking and a ten-match winning streak in China into the tour's remaining events as he looks to build on the breakthrough title.
Both Spaniards now turn their attention to the final stretch of the season, with ranking points from Shanghai shaping the race for a place among the eight qualifiers at the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.