Alejandro Davidovich Fokina produced a stirring fightback to beat Rafael Jodar 1-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in a battle between two first-time ATP Masters 1000 finalists at the Shanghai Masters.

It looked as though Jodar would swat aside his compatriot in Sunday's showpiece match when the 20-year-old stormed through the opening set in less than half an hour.

Jodar also went a break up in the second set, but a series of miscues in big moments ultimately cost the youngster as he surrendered that advantage, going on to be beaten in a tense tie-break.

Only one point in the breaker went against the serve, but after getting it, Davidovich Fokina had a new energy about him in the decider.

A pair of passing winners helped him break in the opening game, though Jodar immediately levelled matters, even after being pegged back from 40-0 up.

Both players traded holds before the decisive break arrived in game five, with a thumping forehand winner from Davidovich Fokina – and another frustrating unforced error from Jodar – helping to re-establish the 27-year-old's advantage. 

And this time, he would not be pegged back. Jodar received treatment on both thighs as his movement deteriorated, while another scare saw the youngster land awkwardly on the outside of his right foot at the net.

Although Jodar made Davidovich Fokina do it on his own serve, that did not prove an issue as he fired in a booming shot that his opponent could only help into the net. 

3 - His third of the event, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is the fourth player to win a maiden ATP Masters 1000 title via comeback wins in the SF and F – Michael Chang (Toronto 90), Thomas Johansson (Montreal 99) and Andrey Rublev (Monte Carlo 23). Fight. #RolexShanghaiMasters https://t.co/D5fb6Jfuoc

— OptaAce (@OptaAce) October 18, 2026

Patience pays off for Davidovich Fokina

Davidovich Fokina's path to a maiden ATP Masters 1000 title has been a long one – the joint-longest, in fact, of any player to win their first crown at that level in the last four years.

He needed 49 main-draw entries to claim his first title at this level, the most since Borna Coric triumphed in Cincinnati in 2022, also on his 49th attempt.

And nobody could say Davidovich Fokina had things easy – he came from behind to beat top seed Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals, then did likewise against Jodar.

With three comeback wins at the event overall, Davidovich Fokina is just the fourth player to win their maiden ATP Masters 1000 title after going a set down in both the semi-final and the final, after Michael Chang (Toronto 1990), Thomas Johansson (Montreal 1999) and Andrey Rublev (Monte-Carlo 2023).