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Davidovich Fokina rallies past Jodar for first Shanghai Masters title
The 27-year-old recovered from a set and a break down to win 1–6, 7–6(5), 6–4, claim his first Masters 1000 trophy and rise to a career-high No. 13.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina recovered from a set and a break down to beat fellow Spaniard Rafael Jodar 1–6, 7–6(5), 6–4 in the Shanghai Masters final on October 18. The comeback delivered the biggest title of the 27-year-old’s career and his first ATP Masters 1000 trophy.
Jodar, 20, was playing his first Masters 1000 final and became the youngest Shanghai finalist in tournament history. Davidovich Fokina steadied his serve through repeated pressure in the second set, won the tiebreak and completed the victory in two hours and 27 minutes.
Jodar controlled the opening set
Jodar broke early for 2–0 and broke again on the way to a 6–1 first set. His fast start put Davidovich Fokina behind before the older Spaniard had established a reliable service rhythm.
The final was the first tour meeting between the two Spaniards. Jodar entered it as the 12th seed, while Davidovich Fokina was seeded 25th.
The second-set escape changed the match
Davidovich Fokina fell a break behind again in the second set, but recovered it and saved break points in three consecutive service games. That resistance kept him close enough to force a tiebreak.
He won the tiebreak 7–5 and extended the match. The swing was competitive rather than statistical decoration: the title changed hands because he survived the pressure phase that followed Jodar’s first-set control.
Two deciding-set breaks sealed the title
Davidovich Fokina broke Jodar twice in the deciding set and closed the match 6–4 after two hours and 27 minutes. The result made Shanghai his third ATP singles title of 2026.
His earlier titles came at ATP 250 events in Mallorca and Chengdu. Shanghai was the first Masters 1000 title of his career and the largest trophy among the three.
The result reshaped both players’ season
Davidovich Fokina was set to climb 13 places to a career-high world No. 13. The rise followed a season in which he turned five earlier ATP final losses into three titles.
Jodar’s defeat did not erase a breakthrough tournament. In his first Masters 1000 final and first full tour season, the youngest Shanghai finalist strengthened his position in the race to qualify for the ATP Finals.
