Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and 20-year-old Rafael Jodar will meet in an all-Spanish Shanghai Masters final after both produced major semifinal wins on Saturday. Davidovich Fokina upset top seed Alexander Zverev 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, while Jodar defeated former world number one Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-4 to continue one of the season’s fastest rises.
Davidovich Fokina recovered after losing the first set
Zverev took the opening set 7-5, but Davidovich Fokina stayed aggressive from the baseline and waited for his opportunities. He earned his first break at a crucial moment to claim the second set and force a decider.
The Spaniard then broke early in the third and maintained control to close out the match.
Thirty-six winners changed the match
Davidovich Fokina struck 36 winners across the contest, a sign that he was willing to attack rather than simply defend against one of the tour’s most powerful players.
He also landed 82% of his first serves, reducing the number of vulnerable second-serve points Zverev could attack.
It was only his second win over Zverev
Before Saturday, Davidovich Fokina had beaten the German only once in seven meetings. His previous victory came at the 2023 Canadian Open.
Winning this match on a Masters 1000 stage makes the result one of the biggest of his career.
A second Masters final after four years
Davidovich Fokina previously reached the Monte Carlo Masters final in 2022 but finished runner-up.
Shanghai gives him another opportunity to claim one of the biggest titles below Grand Slam level.
Jodar’s rise has been even more surprising
Rafael Jodar was ranked outside the world’s top 900 little more than a year ago. He has since climbed rapidly and is now the youngest finalist in Shanghai Masters history.
His straight-sets victory over Medvedev showed that his breakthrough is no longer based on isolated upsets.
Jodar handled pressure points better
The first set contained multiple close games and break chances, but Jodar played the most important points with confidence. He also returned effectively against a player known for extending rallies and forcing opponents into mistakes.
His aggressive style kept Medvedev from controlling the match’s pace.
The final will be their first ATP meeting
Davidovich Fokina and Jodar have never played each other on the ATP Tour. That removes some of the usual tactical history players use to prepare for a final.
Both teams will rely heavily on scouting from recent matches and practice sessions.
Spain is guaranteed another Masters champion or finalist milestone
Spanish men’s tennis has been shaped for decades by Rafael Nadal and, more recently, Carlos Alcaraz. An all-Spanish final featuring two different names highlights the depth of the country’s player development.
Jodar in particular represents a new generation arriving faster than expected.
ATP Finals implications are significant
Jodar’s run also strengthens his position in the race for the season-ending ATP Finals. Deep Masters runs deliver large ranking-point gains at a critical stage of the season.
For Davidovich Fokina, the final can push his ranking and confidence higher ahead of the final weeks of the calendar.
Sunday’s final offers contrasting stories
Davidovich Fokina enters with more tour experience and the memory of a previous Masters final defeat. Jodar arrives as the young breakthrough player with little historical pressure.
Whichever Spaniard wins, Shanghai will produce a champion whose path to the trophy included victories over established top players.
Sources
- ATP Shanghai Masters official results
- Reuters, Oct. 17, 2026
