Shanghai: Davidovich Fokina relishes the battle
In the form of his life, the Spaniard capped a brilliant Asian swing by claiming his maiden Masters 1000 title.
After a back injury sustained at the ATP 250 in Umag temporarily halted his climb in July, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina returned to competition in Asia with a bang. Having already lifted the trophy in Chengdu, the 27-year-old struck again in Shanghai, completing a remarkable run defined by courage, resilience and sheer determination.
11 matches, 10 wins and two titles
The tide has well and truly turned. Long considered cursed after a series of heartbreaking defeats in his first five tour-level finals, “ADF” finally broke the spell in Mallorca this summer. A maiden title that came as an enormous release. “After that win in Mallorca, I released all the bad energy that I had in finals,“ he explained after collecting the second trophy of his season, and career, in Chengdu in late September. “I now know how to deal with the pressure in the tight moments.“
That newfound composure was once again on full display in Shanghai, a tournament that has become synonymous with great stories since Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech's now-famous family affair in 2025.
Davidovich Fokina was pushed to the brink in the third round, saving a match point against Frances Tiafoe before coming from behind to defeat Hubert Hurkacz and then future world No.1 Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals.
That same composure and fighting spirit came to the fore in the final. Trailing compatriot Rafael Jodar by a set and a break, Davidovich Fokina somehow turned the match on its head to prevail 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 after 2h28. “I was more tight, more nervous,” he admitted after the final. “I just needed to be there, and on every ball keep believing in myself and try to let him run... That was my strong key today was to be physical in the match, that was my only chance today.”
Having spent just over two months away from competition, Davidovich Fokina has therefore made a spectacular comeback, recording 10 victories in 11 matches, with his only defeat coming against Matteo Berrettini in his opening match in Tokyo, and, above all, lifting two trophies.
Four years after falling just short in Monte-Carlo, “ADF” is officially a Masters 1000 champion, something even he was struggling to comprehend after his latest triumph. “I cannot describe with words what I achieved in this Chinese swing,” he said. “I never thought I would have two titles after two months out. But I'm really, really happy. I think my team pushing me. It was difficult when I was at home, and they were pushing me very hard. They knew that I can achieve these kind of things. So I am very grateful for what they have done, because they were believing in me. I don't want to think about next week. I just want to celebrate with my team this victory, enjoy this moment.”
Now up to a career-high world No.13, Davidovich Fokina also remains mathematically in contention for a maiden appearance at the ATP Finals. Sitting 16th in the Race, however, he will need to produce further heroics if he is to book his ticket to Turin.
His opponent in the Shanghai final finds himself in an even stronger position. Rafael Jodar, who reached his first Masters 1000 final this weekend thanks in part to prestigious victories over Casper Ruud and Daniil Medvedev, having completed four consecutive comebacks along the way, is now ranked even higher at world No.11 and sits ninth in the Race. Quite the transformation for a player who, at the same stage last year, was ranked No.210 in the world...