Jodar faces Davidovich Fokina in historic all-Spanish Shanghai final
Rafael Jodar and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina will contest the 2026 Shanghai Masters final on October 18, marking the first all-Spanish Masters 1000 final in nine years.
Rafael Jodar and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina will meet in the 2026 Shanghai Masters final on Sunday, October 18. The showdown is the first all-Spanish final at an ATP Masters 1000 event in nine years, continuing a rare national rivalry on the tour's biggest stages.
Both players navigated difficult paths to reach their first Masters final. Jodar, the 20-year-old Spaniard, fought through a series of three-set battles. Davidovich Fokina's route also required resilience, with multiple comeback victories.
Their match results through the tournament were as follows:
| Player | Round | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rafael Jodar | Second Round | Thiago Agustin Tirante | 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 |
| Rafael Jodar | Third Round | Jiri Lehecka | 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 |
| Rafael Jodar | Fourth Round | Botic van de Zandschulp | 6-7, 6-4, 6-2 |
| Rafael Jodar | Quarterfinal | Casper Ruud | 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 |
| Alejandro Davidovich Fokina | Second Round | Jenson Brooksby | 6-1, 6-3 |
| Alejandro Davidovich Fokina | Third Round | Frances Tiafoe | 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 |
| Alejandro Davidovich Fokina | Fourth Round | Hubert Hurkacz | 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 |
| Alejandro Davidovich Fokina | Quarterfinal | Arthur Gea | 4-1 RET |
| Alejandro Davidovich Fokina | Semifinal | Alexander Zverev | 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 |
Historical context
The final will be the first all-Spanish Masters 1000 final since Rafael Nadal defeated Albert Ramos-Vinolas at the 2017 Monte Carlo Masters. Nadal won that match 6-1, 6-3 without facing a single break point. It was his tenth title at the event.
After that final, Ramos-Vinolas said Nadal was a little bit better in everything and served really well that day. Nadal himself stated he was playing really good and probably at a good level, adding that his serve worked great and his groundstrokes were improving during that week.
Nadal's path to that 2017 title included wins over Kyle Edmund, Alexander Zverev, Diego Schwartzman, and David Goffin. Ramos-Vinolas defeated Renzo Olivo, Carlos Berlocq, Andy Murray, Marin Cilic, and Lucas Pouille to reach the final.
Jodar’s breakthrough
Rafael Jodar's run in Shanghai represents a major career breakthrough. At 20 years old, he is the first player born in 2006 or later to reach a Masters 1000 final. A victory would also propel him into the ATP's Top 10 for the first time.
He is now one win away from breaking Boris Becker's record for the quickest time between cracking the top 100 and entering the top 10. His season has been one of steady ascent after early setbacks. Jodar lost in the first round at Indian Wells and the third round in Miami. He then found form with back-to-back quarterfinal finishes in Madrid and Rome.
A first Masters semifinal followed at the Canadian Open, where he lost to Brandon Nakashima. A fourth-round exit in Cincinnati and a second-round loss at the US Open preceded his Shanghai surge. His performance this week has moved him into eighth place in the ATP Finals race with 3,159 live points.
The rivalry and the race
Despite both being Spanish, Jodar and Davidovich Fokina have never faced each other at a tour-level event. They have, however, practiced together a couple of times. Their first professional meeting will have significant stakes beyond the Masters 1000 title.
Jodar's position in the ATP Finals race is now under pressure from those behind him. Alex de Minaur sits in ninth place with 2,880 points, while Novak Djokovic trails with 2,840 points. Only eight players qualify for the season-ending event. A spot opened up after Jannik Sinner's knee injury ended his season.
Rafael Jodar is now one win away from breaking Boris Becker's record for the quickest time between cracking the top 100 and entering the top 10.
