Shanghai Masters Final Round-up | Alejandro Davidovich Fokina breaks new ground in scintillating comeback against Rafael Jodar

Back in June of this year, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina was still searching for his first-ever ATP title. He has now won a third, with the Shanghai Masters glory being the pick of the lot. A gutsy and resilient performance saw him produce a staggering 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 comeback against fellow countryman Rafael Jodar.

It was a great day for Spanish tennis, showing its depth with Carlos Alcaraz not even one of the contenders in this all-Spanish final. While Jodar has been touted to achieve great things in the sport, it was not his night.

A top 10 breakthrough will have to wait, with Davidovich Fokina climbing to a new career high of 13th in the world. His ATP 250 titles in Mallorca and Chengdu were huge breakthroughs in his career, but this one has really got him back on the map. A second Masters 1000 final, first since Monte-Carlo Masters in 2022, but this one he triumphs in.

Jodar played a very high level in the first set and had numerous chances to break in the second set. Davidovich Fokina showed maturity and determination not always seen by him on court. He got back in the match after winning the second set tiebreak before seizing the initiative in the third set with a break of serve. He saw it out to continue his brilliant period of form.

At the start of the match, it was one-way traffic. Jodar played an exceptional first set of tennis, winning it in 27 minutes with Davidovich Fokina floundering.

He created two break points in the set and converted them both. The first came in the second game as he accelerated 3-0 to the good. Davidovich Fokina got on the board before another three-game spurt resulted in Jodar taking home the first set, sending out an ominous statement in the process.

The second set was much more competitive. Four holds of serve commenced it before Jodar strode even further in front. He continued his flawless conversion rate on break points but would not be able to back up that advantage.

It was abolished as Davidovich Fokina managed to break back and keep himself in this tennis match. He took a 4-3 lead before a solitary break chance cropped up. It was not converted, and Jodar was on the offensive.

Two break points were defended well as he failed to move within one of the match. A hold to love, the first comfortable hold for a while, pushed Jodar back level at 5-5. Another golden chance cropped up for Jodar as he sailed 15-40 ahead against the serve. For the fourth consecutive Davidovich Fokina service game, he had to deal with break points. They were saved, and eventually a tiebreak was forced.

The first 10 points went on serve with Jodar on the offensive but the unforced errors racking up. Davidovich Fokina won the first point against the serve, and that created a set point. True grit and resilience were showcased by the 27-year-old who took his first set point and forced a tantalising third set decider.

Davidovich Fokina had the momentum on his side and continued to use it productively. He broke from the off but would then fall 0-40 behind on serve. Three break points were saved, but a fourth came along and this time Jodar confirmed parity.

Three games later, Davidovich Fokina got back ahead. He was very clinical at that time of asking, and it was obvious that Jodar was starting to flounder. Fitness concerns rose as he received a medical timeout with there being no response against the Davidovich Fokina serve.

All Jodar could do was force his opponent to serve it out, and soon enough three championship points were created. A second one was taken, and Davidovich Fokina becomes the latest champion in Shanghai.