Rafa Jódar Stuns Medvedev to Reach Shanghai Final and Set Up Historic All-Spanish Clash with Davidovich

Rafa Jódar advanced to the final of the Shanghai Masters on October 17, 2026, defeating Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-4 to set up an all-Spanish championship match against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

The 20-year-old Jódar secured the straight-sets victory, guaranteeing that a Spanish player will lift the trophy at the tournament for the first time in history. Jódar reached the final hurdle after a physical baseline battle that lasted 44 minutes past the hour.

How the Semifinal Unfolded in Shanghai

The opening game set a demanding physical tone, stretching across a 13-minute service hold by Jódar that featured two aces. Medvedev pressed the tournament newcomer early, but the Spaniard broke in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. Although Medvedev immediately broke back, Jódar reclaimed the advantage with deep court positioning and precise returns, closing out the first set 6-3.

During the changeover after the first set, Jódar called for the trainer and left the court. He returned and immediately broke Medvedev’s serve to open the second set. Medvedev responded by mounting a three-game surge to pull ahead 3-2 as physical fatigue visibly caught up to Jódar. Jódar steadied his game, stopped the slide with his sixth ace of the match to lead 5-3, and ultimately closed out the contest.

The victory marks a milestone in Jódar’s career. Ranked 13th in the world, he became the youngest semifinalist and now finalist in the history of the Shanghai tournament, while Medvedev holds the tournament’s past champion pedigree from his 2019 title run.

Davidovich Fokina Reaches the Final After Defeating the World Number One

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina punched the first ticket to the championship match earlier on Saturday, overcoming Alexander Zverev, confirmed as number one of the world in 2026, in a three-set semifinal battle, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3. The 27-year-old from Málaga earned a new opportunity to lift a trophy of this category, returning to this stage for the first time since his runner-up finish to Stefanos Tsitsipas in Monte Carlo in 2022.

Rafa Jódar Stuns Medvedev to Reach Shanghai Final and Set Up Historic All-Spanish Clash with Davidovich — Photo: abc.com.py

The tournament setup delivers a completely unprecedented head-to-head meeting between Davidovich Fokina, ranked 26th, and his compatriot Jódar on the main stadium court. The fixture erases the historical hurdle that previously prevented any Spanish player from capturing the Shanghai title.