The German, who had already secured the ATP year-end world No. 1 ranking, lost 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 against the Spaniard, missing the opportunity to reach the final of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament.
Despite the disappointment, Zverev remained realistic about his performance, acknowledging the physical demands of a packed schedule that included the US Open, the Laver Cup, Beijing and Shanghai.
Zverev Admits Fatigue Caught Up With Him
Zverev revealed after the match that he had entered the tournament carrying fatigue and an injury concern following several demanding weeks on tour.
“I feel like I've actually, in a way, maybe overachieved this week because of how much tennis I played,” Zverev said.
“I carried a little bit of injury, I carried fatigue into the tournament, and I'm okay to lose to a player like this today.”
The German had looked impressive in his quarter-final victory over Australia's Alex de Minaur, winning 6-4, 6-4 to reach the last four.
However, he struggled to maintain the same level against Davidovich Fokina, who took advantage of his opponent's physical difficulties to produce an impressive comeback.
Zverev's comments highlighted the challenge of maintaining peak performance across a demanding international tennis calendar.
Davidovich Fokina Produces Impressive Comeback
Davidovich Fokina demonstrated resilience and attacking quality to overcome the top seed and book his place in the Shanghai final.
Zverev took the opening set 7-5, but the Spaniard responded strongly in the second, securing a 6-4 win to force a deciding set.
The turning point came early in the third set when Davidovich Fokina capitalised on a double fault from Zverev to secure a break and take control of the contest.
The 27-year-old maintained his intensity from the baseline and served effectively as he completed a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 victory in two hours and six minutes.
The result marked Davidovich Fokina's second victory over Zverev in eight meetings and earned him a place in his second ATP Masters 1000 final.
A Positive Week Despite the Disappointment
Although Zverev fell short of the final, his Shanghai campaign included several encouraging performances.
The German defeated de Minaur in the quarter-finals and survived a demanding three-set encounter against Alexander Bublik earlier in the tournament.
His progress in Shanghai also came after an exhausting run of competitions, making his semi-final appearance a notable achievement despite the defeat.
Zverev had already enjoyed a significant season, winning the French Open and US Open before securing confirmation that he would finish 2026 as the world's top-ranked player.
The German will now have to assess his physical condition before deciding his next tournament appearance.
Davidovich Fokina Targets Shanghai Title
Davidovich Fokina's victory continued an impressive run in China, following his title-winning campaign at the Chengdu Open in September.
The Spaniard has now won nine consecutive matches in China and will be looking to add another major achievement to his season.
His run in Shanghai has included victories over several established players, demonstrating his ability to compete with the leading names on the ATP Tour.
He will contest the Shanghai Masters final on Sunday, 18 October, against fellow Spaniard Rafael Jódar, who defeated Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-4 in the other semi-final.
For Zverev, the immediate priority will be recovery after a demanding stretch of tennis. For Davidovich Fokina, the opportunity to claim his first Masters 1000 title now awaits.
Nigfooty Sports will continue to follow the latest developments from the ATP Tour.