Alejandro Davidovich Fokina Claims First Masters 1000 Title at Shanghai

Ranked No. 26, Davidovich Fokina is now the 16th Spaniard to secure a Masters 1000 championship. His journey throughout the tournament included three comeback victories, including wins over Hubert Hurkacz in the fourth round and top seed Alexander Zverev in the semifinals. He joins a select group of players who have won their inaugural Masters 1000 titles by coming back in both the semifinal and final rounds.

Davidovich Fokina’s path to the final began with a decisive 6-1, 6-3 win against Jenson Brooksby, followed by a nail-biting match against Frances Tiafoe, where he saved a match point to win 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (6). He advanced to the semifinals when his opponent Arthur Gea retired at 4-1.

The championship final was a notable turnaround for Davidovich Fokina, who had previously lost his first five finals, including four in 2025 and one in Monte-Carlo in 2022. His emotional loss in Washington was particularly significant, as he had three championship points against Alex de Minaur. However, after winning in Mallorca and Chengdu this season, he has now completed an impressive sweep in finals.

In the final match, Jodar initially took control, winning the first set 6-1 and leading in the second. However, after a series of intense games, Davidovich Fokina leveled the match in a tiebreak. The final set saw both players exchange breaks before Davidovich Fokina secured victory without facing further break points.

Jodar, who spent considerable time on court throughout the tournament, exhibited signs of fatigue, having played several three-set matches prior to the final. Despite the loss, Jodar's performance will elevate his ranking to a career-high No. 11, making him the first player born in 2006 to reach a Masters 1000 final, although the defeat denied him a top 10 debut and the record for youngest champion in the tournament's history.