The key facts

  • Rafael Jodar (20 years old) defeated Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-4 and reached his first ATP 1000 final
  • Alejandro Davidovich Fokina beat Zverev 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 and extended his winning streak in China to nine matches
  • Zverev said fatigue and an injury hampered him, and he will rest until the tournament in Vienna

All-Spanish Final in Shanghai

Two Spaniards will meet in the final of the tennis Masters in Shanghai. 20-year-old Rafael Jodar defeated Daniil Medvedev in two sets on Saturday — 6-3, 6-4, while Alejandro Davidovich Fokina snatched victory from top seed Alexander Zverev with a score of 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.

Jodar Against Medvedev

20-year-old Jodar, who is ten years younger than Medvedev, did not allow the Russian to return to the final he won in 2019. According to AFP, Jodar is ranked 13th, although he started the season at 168th. This is his first final at a prestigious 1000-level tournament. 'It was a lot of fun,' Jodar said after the match, noting that Medvedev made the victory 'tough' and all the games were very even. He added that he was very pleased with how he handled the important moments and showed his best level.

Course of the Match Against Medvedev

The match began with a 13-minute first game, which Jodar held on his serve. The opponents exchanged breaks and engaged in grueling rallies in the humid evening atmosphere; the 30-year-old Medvedev leaned on his racket and bent over from fatigue. 'It was not easy, I was a bit tired, but that is part of the game. I think he was tired too, but he coped better than me,' said the world No. 6. He called Jodar 'an excellent player' and noted that he returned serve better: 'He is in the top 10. It is not like he is 60th in the world and we start talking about that. You never know who will win 25 Grand Slams — six, one, two. We will see.' Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, saved four set points, but Jodar adjusted and took the first set when the Russian served too long. Before the second set, Jodar needed a medical timeout, but he returned to the court in excellent form and led 2-0. He made a break on Medvedev's double fault at 4-3; the Russian fell to the court trying to save a match point, but held one more game. Jodar did not concede another point and closed out the match with a decisive forehand.

Davidovich Fokina Knocked Out Zverev

27-year-old Davidovich Fokina, ranked 26th, combined tenacity, quick returns and elegant drop shots to sensationally beat the German Zverev, who, according to AFP, will finish the year as world No. 1. 'I was a bit nervous' at the start of the match, the Spaniard admitted, adding: 'But I kept going forward, kept fighting for every ball.' He extended his winning streak in China to nine matches after his title at the ATP 250 tournament in Chengdu.

Zverev on His Condition

Zverev, champion of the French Open and the US Open, told journalists that fatigue had caught up with him: 'I think a break is absolutely necessary now.' The 29-year-old German added that he will monitor his condition ahead of the tournament in Vienna, which starts on October 24. 'I was carrying a minor injury, carrying fatigue into the tournament, and I do not regret losing today to a player like that,' said Zverev, who periodically felt discomfort in his ankle in Shanghai.