Alejandro Davidovich reached his second career Masters 1,000 final with a victory over Alexander Zverev at the Shanghai Masters (7-5, 4-6, 3-6). The Spaniard rallied against the German player, who battled physical discomfort from the second set onward and was surpassed by the level of his opponent. Concentrated and with his lesson learned, the player from Malaga stepped onto the court against the current world number two.
Alejandro Davidovich Breaks Through to Shanghai Final
The semifinal clash at the Shanghai Masters saw Alejandro Davidovich overcome a first-set deficit to secure a spot in Sunday’s championship match. “Ha sido la mejor victoria de mi carrera, la final es muy bonita pero ganar este partido a uno de los mejores jugadores del momento me da mucha confianza,” Davidovich said after the match, as reported by Sport.
🧐 Algo remueve a Sascha…Molestias físicas para 𝐙𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐯 con su pie derecho ante 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐡 .#LaPistaDelTenis pic.twitter.com/0q3qjJR9n2
The opening set remained strictly on serve through the first ten games without a single break opportunity for either player, with the serious play featuring aces and the deployment of best versions from both competitors. In the eleventh game, Zverev capitalized on his first opening to break serve and subsequently held to claim the first set 7-5. Sport noted that the German entered the match as one of the tour’s most in-form competitors, having accumulated 62 victories during the season, and will finish as the number 1 in 2026. Zverev golpea la bola durante un partido / ALEX PLAVEVSKI / EFE
Physical Struggles Shift the Momentum in Set Two
The dynamics of the semifinal shifted early in the second set when Zverev began experiencing discomfort in his right foot. Although the German continued playing, his movement and serving consistency dipped noticeably. Davidovich raised his intensity to capitalize on the opening.
In the ninth game, Davidovich saved a difficult situation when he went from 40-15 to deuce with his serve and used his forehand to stay ahead in the score at 4-5. The missed opportunity rattled Zverev, whose service games grew increasingly erratic. Davidovich broke serve in the subsequent game, sealing the break with a brilliant defensive passing shot that leveled the match.
Deciding Set Seals the Upset for the Spanish Contender
Carrying the momentum into the third set, Davidovich immediately established control by holding serve and applying pressure on Zverev’s delivery.
THIS TO SEAL THE SET 😱Fantastic Foki pass to grab the second set 6-4!@alexdavidovich1 #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/Ogw3ACuAlN
Despite the physical limitations and the German refusing to give up, the unstoppable cyclone Davidovich advanced toward this important victory right at the doorstep of the Davis Cup Finals, where the player from Malaga wants to be. Davidovich maintained his aggressive baseline play to close out the third set 6-3. The victory follows his final at the 2022 Monte Carlo Masters, where he lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Sunday Final Setup and Upcoming Schedule
With the semifinal victory secured, Davidovich advances to Sunday’s final in Shanghai. His opponent will be decided in the second semifinal clash, where Rafa Jódar faces Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, leaving open the possibility of an all-Spanish championship match.
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