The 26th-ranked player from Spain stayed strong and beat his tired fellow countryman with a score of 1-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.
Davidovich Fokina said, “I don’t know what to say, I don’t know what I feel.
Just like a huge relief.”
This is the first time he has won a title at the prestigious 1000-level tournament, and he also extended his winning run in China to 10 matches after winning in Chengdu.
Rafael Jodar, who is 20 years old and ranked 13th, was the youngest man to reach the final in Shanghai.
Even though he made it to the final, he called it “another tennis match.”
He said, “I just tried to enjoy the moment.
I gave everything but it wasn’t meant to be today.”
Jodar started off strong.
He saved a point by reaching over his shoulder and then won it with a powerful overhead smash, breaking for a quick 2-0 lead.
Davidovich Fokina tried to put pressure on Jodar’s backhand, but Jodar stayed calm as his opponent made a series of mistakes.
Jodar broke again to take a 5-1 lead and finished the first set after just 27 minutes with an ace.
SHANGHAI — Alejandro Davidovich Fokina came back from a set and a break down to beat Rafael Jodar 1-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 and win the Shanghai Masters on Sunday, securing his third title of the year and his biggest yet of his career.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs Rafael Jodar: Shanghai Masters Final Thriller 😎
Avidovich Fokina put pressure on his backhand, but Jodar stayed calm as his opponent made a series of mistakes.
Jodar broke again to take a 5-1 lead and ended the first set in just 27 minutes with an ace.
A determined Davidovich Fokina wouldn’t give up .
He lost his serve, giving Jodar a 3-2 lead in the second set, but later came back with some strong plays, falling to the ground to save a point at the net and making it 3-3.
Both players fought hard to hold their serves in a run of intense points, with the match needing to restart a point during the ninth game when a ball rolled onto the court.
Davidovich Fokina was shouting in frustration but saved two break points to go up 6-5 when Jodar returned into the net.
But the younger Spaniard stayed strong, hitting a dangerous backhand to force a tie-break.
The two were very close, but Davidovich Fokina stayed cool in the tie-break to take the set and make it a deciding third.
He quickly took control, breaking Jodar’s serve in the first game of the third set.
His celebration was short-lived as Jodar quickly broke back.
But Davidovich Fokina had the last word when Jodar hit long, giving him a 3-2 lead.
Jodar needed a medical timeout for his right thigh as he was down 4-3.
He struggled in pain during a crucial ninth game but kept the match going for a bit longer, eventually needing a trainer for his left thigh at 5-4.
