Davidovich Fokina fights back to beat Jodar and win the Shanghai Masters, the biggest title of his career
Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina beat compatriot Rafael Jodar 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 in the Shanghai final for his first ATP Masters 1000 trophy. He will rise to a career-high No. 13; Jodar, 20, climbs to No. 11.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina won the biggest title of his career on Sunday, coming from a set and a break down to beat fellow Spaniard Rafael Jodar 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 in the final of the Shanghai Masters.
Jodar, the 20-year-old 12th seed, dominated the opening set, breaking twice and not facing a single break point on his own serve. He was still ahead at 3-2 with a break in the second set before Davidovich Fokina found his way back, edged a tense tie-break and then pulled away in the decider. The match lasted two hours and 28 minutes.
It capped a week of narrow escapes for the 27-year-old, who saved a match point against Frances Tiafoe in the third round and came from a set down to beat both Hubert Hurkacz and top seed Alexander Zverev on the way to the final. "I have a blank mind… just a huge relief," he said afterwards, adding that he felt he had a little more left physically in the third set.
The win is Davidovich Fokina's first ATP Masters 1000 trophy and the third title of his career. After losing his first five tour-level finals, including the 2022 Monte-Carlo Masters final, he has now won his last three, following titles in Mallorca and Chengdu this year. He had returned in September after two months out with a back injury.
The Spaniard will rise 13 places to a career-high No. 13 in Monday's ATP rankings. Jodar, enjoying one of the most impressive debut seasons on the tour, moves up to a joint career-high No. 11 and remains inside the qualifying places for the ATP Finals in Turin.