By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, October 18, 2026
Photo credit: Screen Shot
Final failures only fueled Alejandro Davidovich Fokina’s deep desire for closure.
Down a set and a break today, Davidovich Fokina delivered rousing comeback to roar to the Rolex Shanghai Masters championship.
In the first all-Spanish hard-court final in ATP Masters 1000 history, Davidovich Fokina fended off Rafael Jodar 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 to capture his maiden Masters 1000 crown.
On his second championship point, Davidovich Fokina threw down a crackling serve to close in two hours, 27 minutes.
After an abysmal 0-5 record in his first five finals, Davidovich Fokina collected his third title of the season becoming the first Spanish man to raise the Shanghai title trophy.
“I don’t have any words right now. I don’t know what to say,” said Davidovich Fokina, who saved a match point defeating Frances Tiafoe in the third round. “I don’t know how I feel, just a huge relief, no.
“After the first set, [I] just keep trying, keep pushing. In the tie break, I believe in myself again. To try to play all the balls. He was playing huge tennis. In the third set, I thought I can be more physical. But he’s an amazing player. It’s very tough to play with him.”
The hard-hitting Jodar built a 6-1, 3-2 lead and was three holds from the title.
Bursting out of the blocks, Davidovich Fokina ran down a dropper, hurled himself at the ball and shoveled a diving pass down the line to break back for 3-all.
Davidovich Fokina imposed his speed, shot-making skill on the move and stamina as Jodar seemed slowed in the later stages by possible cramping or a leg or hip issue. The 20-year-old Jodar, who made history as the youngest man to reach the Shanghai final, fell to 1-2 in finals.
“I want to congratulate Alex and his team for the work they have been doing these past months,” Jodar said. “I’m very happy for you and that a Spanish player has won this title.”
Playing the most dynamic tennis of his career, Davidovich Fokina served 75 percent and saved eight of 12 break points. Jodar hit more winners—38 to 17—and won more total points (108 to 105), but could not stay in step with his fellow Spaniard down the stretch.
Facing Jodar’s baseline onslaught in the opener, Davidovich Fokina decided he had one option: Turn up the physicality.
“Today I was more tight, more nervous. He start very good,” Davidovich Fokina said. “The first set, I was not seeing any holes to make a winner. He was everywhere. He was serving very good, returning
very good.
“I was, like, trying my best, no. In the second set, he had a break up, but I just kept believing in myself, no, to see what I can do to break him.
“It’s not easy, his first final, Masters 1000, I knew that it’s not going to be easy for him either. He’s going to be nervous, maybe he’s going to do a couple mistakes that he didn’t do before.
“So I just needed to be there, and on every ball keep believing in myself and try to let him run, no, because at the end in the third set you can see that he physically can start cramping. That was my strong key today was to be physical in the match, that was my only chance today.”
Despite missing two months with a back injury, Davidovich Fokina has competed with strong self belief winning titles in Mallorca, Chengdu and Shanghai this season, while extending his winning streak on Chinese soil to 10 matches.
“Of course I am very grateful with the team I have that they support me every day—for many years,” Davidovich Fokina said. “Of course this year was a tough one.
“Not only two months out, but I skip a couple of tournaments with injuries. I cannot describe how thankful I am with the team. I remember Arthur Fils came back after time off and win a lot of matches. He’s a friend of mine and I thought if he can do it, I can do it too.”
Before a packed crowd that included Hall of Famers Roger Federer and Marat Safin seated in the front row, Davidovich Fokina’s physicality, purposes and persistence helped him turn a first-set blow-out into a stirring comeback.
Changing direction decisively as he did in his semifinal sweep of Daniil Medvedev, Jodar drilled a backhand strike down the line. That shot gave him a second break and a 5-1 lead after 24 minutes.
Jodar zapped an ace out wide, sealing a one-set lead after 27 minutes.
The Marrakech champion broke for a 3-2 second-set lead only to see Davidovich Fokina break right back.
Digging in, Davidovich Fokina saved five of six break points in a second set that escalated into the tie break.
The 27-year-old Spaniard drew some errors from the flatter-hitting Jodar to squeeze out the tie break, 7-5.
Though Jodar went up 2-1 in the final set, Davidovich Fokina found some of his sharpest shot-making reeling off 12 of the next 15 points.
Exuding more energy, Davidovich Fokina drained a few forehand errors to break for a 3-2 third-set lead. The man sporting mis-matched socks backed up the break at 15 for 4-2.
Davidovich Fokina served out his biggest championship with command.
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