Jodar beats Medvedev to reach first Masters 1000 final in Shanghai

Rafael Jodar reached his first Masters 1000 final Saturday, October 17, defeating Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-4 at the Shanghai Masters. The 20-year-old will play Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in an all-Spanish final Sunday.

Jodar became the youngest finalist in the tournament’s history with a victory that took one hour, 44 minutes. It was his second win over a top-10 opponent, following four successive matches in Shanghai in which he had recovered after dropping the opening set.

Against Medvedev, Jodar finished with 22 winners to the Russian’s 14. He lost a break advantage in the second set but won three of the final four games to complete the straight-sets victory over the 2019 Shanghai champion.

The Spaniard won his first ATP title in Marrakech this year and reached the Washington final in August. He began the season outside the top 100 and can enter the top 10 for the first time by winning Sunday’s final.

Davidovich Fokina advanced earlier Saturday by beating top seed Alexander Zverev 5-7, 6-4, 6-3. Sunday’s match guarantees a first Masters 1000 title for its winner.