Davidovich Fokina Upsets Top Seed Zverev to Book Shanghai Masters Final Spot

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina delivered a stunning upset on Saturday, beating top‑seed Alexander Zverev 5‑7, 6‑4, 6‑3 to advance to the Shanghai Masters final. The 25th‑seeded Spaniard will meet either former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev or compatriot Rafael Jodar, the 20‑year‑old who is seeded 12th.

The two‑hour, two‑minute match featured 36 winners from Davidovich Fokina, marking only his second triumph over Zverev in eight meetings. Their first encounter ended in a German victory in the round of 32 at the 2023 Canadian Open.

After taking his first break in the second set, Davidovich Fokina sealed the set with a spectacular backhand passing shot that drew applause from the crowd. Riding that momentum, he broke Zverev early in the third set to go up 2‑0 and never looked back, securing his second ATP Masters 1000 final after finishing runner‑up in Monte Carlo in 2022. He landed 82 percent of his first serves and repeatedly targeted Zverev’s forehand, producing what he called one of the biggest wins of his career.

“I knew that if I stayed there all match, I could get at least one chance and I took it in the second set,” Davidovich Fokina said. “Then in the third set, I think I was better physically. The early break gave me a lot of power. I focused on just playing, not worrying about the result but enjoying it.”

Zverev, 29, admitted fatigue had caught up with him. “I think a break is quite necessary now,” he told reporters, adding that he would monitor his fitness before the Vienna tournament that begins on October 24. “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,” he said, noting occasional ankle discomfort in Shanghai.

Davidovich Fokina, who missed the North American hard‑court swing in August due to injury, has now recorded nine straight wins in China after capturing his second tour‑level title at the ATP 250 event in Chengdu last month.

For Zverev, a seven‑time Masters 1000 champion, the loss ends a disappointing week. His best Shanghai result remains a runner‑up finish to Medvedev in 2019. The German has otherwise enjoyed a strong season, ending a Grand Slam drought at the French Open, winning his second major title at the US Open, and securing the year‑end world No. 1 ranking after Jannik Sinner’s season‑ending knee injury.

In the other semifinal, fifth‑seeded Daniil Medvedev faced 12th‑seeded Rafael Jodar.