Alejandro Davidovich Fokina beat Rafael Jodar 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 in an all-Spanish final to win the Shanghai Masters on Sunday. After losing the opening set in 27 minutes, he claimed his first Masters 1000 title and the third ATP Tour title of his career.
Shanghai, China: Alejandro Davidovich Fokina had lost his first five tour-level finals. On Sunday he lost the opening set of a sixth in just 27 minutes, then spent the next two hours making sure it would not become another defeat.
Jodar blitzes the opener
Rafael Jodar started the final as if it were his to lose. He broke in the second game, broke again to lead 5-1 and never faced a break point on his own serve. The first set was over in 27 minutes, 6-1, and the 12th seed looked set to follow his semi-final win over Daniil Medvedev with the biggest title of his career.
A tie-break changes the final
The second set turned on a single game. Jodar led 3-2 after a break, but Davidovich Fokina broke straight back and held his nerve from there. The set went to a tie-break, and the Spaniard won it 7-5. He said afterwards that he had believed in himself again in the tie-break and simply tried to play the ball.
Davidovich Fokina takes the decider
Both players dropped serve early in the third set. Davidovich Fokina then broke again, held on and served out the match at 6-4. Jodar, who had come from a set down in four of his five earlier matches in Shanghai, had run out of comebacks on the final day of a draining week.
From back injury to Masters champion
The title capped a remarkable run for a player who missed about two months with a back injury before winning in Chengdu in September. In Shanghai he saved a match point against Frances Tiafoe in the third round and came from a set down to beat top seed Alexander Zverev in the semi-final. His winning streak on Chinese soil now stands at 10 matches, and having lost his first five finals, he has won his last three.
“I don’t have any words right now,” he said after the match. “I have a blank mind.”
Result: Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) bt Rafael Jodar (ESP, 12) 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-4
Event: Rolex Shanghai Masters (ATP Masters 1000), final, Sunday 18 October 2026
Duration: 2 hours 28 minutes
