Alejandro Davidovich Fokina pulled off a major upset at the Shanghai Masters, defeating tournament favorite Alexander Zverev with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 victory. This win propels the 25th-seeded Spaniard into his second career ATP Masters 1000 final, having previously finished as runner-up in Monte Carlo in 2022. A seven-time ATP Masters 1000 champion whose best result in Shanghai remains his runner-up finish to Medvedev in 2019, it was a disappointing end to the week for Zverev.
The two-hour, two-minute encounter on Saturday saw Davidovich Fokina record 36 winners. It marked only his second victory against the German in eight career meetings, with his previous success occurring during the 2023 Canadian Open round of 32. He now enters the final showdown against either fifth-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev or 20-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar.
Davidovich Fokina’s tactical precision was on display throughout the match as he landed 82 percent of his first serves. He frequently targeted Zverev’s forehand, eventually securing a critical break in the second set after a grueling baseline rally concluded with a successful backhand passing shot. Maintaining this momentum, he broke Zverev early in the third set to establish a 2-0 lead that he never relinquished.
Reflecting on his resilience, the Spaniard noted, “I knew that if I stayed there all match, I could get at least one chance and I took it there in the second set.” He added that his third-set performance felt physically superior, stating, “The early break in the third set gave me a lot of power. I focused on just playing, not mattering about the result but enjoying.”
For Zverev, the loss signaled the end of a demanding campaign.
The 29-year-old, who secured the world number one year-end ranking following Jannik Sinner’s season-ending knee injury, admitted that fatigue and a lingering minor injury hindered his performance. “I carried a little bit of injury, I carried fatigue into the tournament, and I’m OK to lose to a player like this today,” Zverev said, noting he had been managing ankle issues throughout the week in Shanghai.
Looking ahead, Zverev expressed a need for recovery before the upcoming Vienna tournament scheduled for October 24. “I think a break is quite necessary now,” he told reporters. Despite this defeat, the seven-time ATP Masters 1000 champion has enjoyed a standout season, highlighted by victories at both the French Open and the US Open.
Davidovich Fokina remains undefeated in China during this current trip, extending his winning streak to nine consecutive matches. His recent form follows his second tour-level title victory at the ATP 250 event in Chengdu last month. His performance is particularly notable given that he missed the North American hard-court swing in August due to health concerns.
