Davidovich Fokina wins first Masters 1000 title in Shanghai

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina rallied from a set down to defeat Rafael Jódar 1-6, 7-6, 6-4 in the Shanghai Masters final on October 18, claiming his first ATP Masters 1000 title and the biggest trophy of his career. The 27-year-old Spaniard recovered after Jódar took control early, breaking twice to win the opening set. Davidovich Fokina then fought back from a break down in the second, saved break points across several service games and won the tiebreak to level the match. He broke twice in the deciding set and closed out the victory after two hours and 27 minutes. The win was Davidovich Fokina’s third ATP title of 2026, following victories in Mallorca and Chengdu. It also completed a turnaround after he lost his first five career finals, including the Monte Carlo Masters final in 2022. He had reached the Shanghai championship match by defeating top seed Alexander Zverev in the semifinals, also in three sets. Jódar, 20, was playing in his first Masters 1000 final. He had beaten former champion Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals and became the youngest finalist in Shanghai tournament history. Match accounts reported that he received treatment for thigh problems during the final;...