The 25th-seeded Spaniard recovered from a set and a break down to triumph after two hours and 27 minutes at the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena. The victory also secured his third ATP Tour title of the season and extended his winning streak in China to 10 matches.
Jódar, the 12th seed, looked poised to claim the biggest title of his young career after a dominant opening set. However, Davidovich Fokina demonstrated his resilience and experience to turn the contest around and complete an impressive victory.
Jódar dominates the opening set
The 20-year-old Jódar made a commanding start, breaking Davidovich Fokina early and establishing a 2-0 lead before breaking again to take the opening set 6-1.
His aggressive baseline play and consistency left the older Spaniard struggling to find his rhythm, putting Jódar in a strong position to win his first Masters 1000 title.
The teenager continued his momentum into the second set, breaking for a 3-2 advantage and moving closer to the championship.
But Davidovich Fokina refused to surrender.
Davidovich Fokina fights back to force a decider
Davidovich Fokina immediately broke back to level the second set at 3-3, then dug deep during several difficult service games to stay in contention.
Both players had opportunities to gain the decisive advantage, but Davidovich Fokina held his nerve when it mattered most.
The set went to a tie-break, where the 27-year-old edged ahead and converted the opportunity to win it 7-6(5), forcing a deciding set.
The turnaround shifted the momentum firmly in his favour, while Jódar was left to regroup after missing his opportunity to close out the match in straight sets.
Spanish veteran seals historic Shanghai triumph
Davidovich Fokina carried his improved level into the third set, breaking Jódar twice to establish control of the decider.
The Malaga-born player remained composed in the closing stages before sealing a 6-4 victory and celebrating the most significant achievement of his professional career.
The win was particularly meaningful after Davidovich Fokina lost his first five ATP Tour finals, including the 2022 Monte-Carlo Masters final. He has now won three consecutive finals, following his triumphs in Mallorca in June and Chengdu in September.
His Shanghai title also marked a successful return from a two-month absence caused by a back injury earlier in the season.
Jódar announces himself on the big stage
Although he fell short in the final, Jódar leaves Shanghai with his reputation significantly enhanced.
The 20-year-old reached his first Masters 1000 final and became the youngest finalist in the tournament’s history. His run included a semi-final victory over former champion Daniil Medvedev, underlining his growing ability to compete against established names on the ATP Tour.
Jódar’s performance in the opening set showed his potential, but Davidovich Fokina’s greater composure during the crucial points ultimately made the difference.
Davidovich Fokina reaches a career milestone
The Shanghai championship represents a major breakthrough for Davidovich Fokina, who has long been regarded as a talented and athletic competitor on the tour.
After his recent success in Chengdu, his triumph in Shanghai confirms the Spaniard’s excellent form during the Chinese swing. He is projected to climb 13 places to a career-high world ranking of number 13.
For Davidovich Fokina, the victory is more than another trophy: it is the reward for years of persistence after several painful defeats in title matches.
Final result
• Shanghai Masters men’s singles final: Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (Spain) defeated Rafael Jódar (Spain) 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-4.
Davidovich Fokina leaves Shanghai with his maiden Masters 1000 crown, while Jódar can take considerable confidence from a breakthrough run that signals a promising future at the highest level of men’s tennis.