Davidovich surprises number 1 Zverev and enters the final of the Shanghai Masters

The Malaga tennis player Alejandro Davidovich Fokina today became the first finalist of the Shanghai Masters 1,000 after defeating the German Alexander Zverev 5-7, 6-4 and 6-3, already confirmed as world number one in tennis in 2026.

The Malaga native thus gets a new opportunity to win a trophy of this category after Monaco 2022, when he lost to the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, and is already waiting for a rival who will emerge from the duel that will take place next between another Spaniard, Rafa Jódar, and the Russian Daniil Medvedev.

'Foki' started the match by scoring an ace and at that same point he had to defend himself from a possible break by Zverev, who showed why he is being one of the best servers in the tournament by not giving the Spaniard a single opportunity, showing off with 18 direct serves throughout the match.

The fourth game left a colorful exchange of blows that Davidovich culminated with a lob over his rival: Qizhong's center court broke into a cheer and both opponents high-fived, enjoying the spectacle themselves.

Zverev strangely lost several almost consecutive points by hitting the ball with the frame of his racket, but he took advantage of the only moment in which his rival let up to break in the eleventh game and turn everything around.

Davidovich's first chance came in the fourth game of the second set, but he failed to make any of the two break balls he had available for more than 9 minutes, warning Zverev for loss of time; The German already admitted to the press that lately he bounces the ball too much when serving, but assured that he does not do it to distract his opponents.

However, the man from Malaga, extremely solid in his first serves, did make good on the opportunity he had at the decisive moment: a set point that he resolved with a backhand passing shot from the sideline to force the tiebreaker.

And in that final set, Zverev finally undid himself: he allowed Davidovich to break quickly with a double fault, and he made good on the gift, going 3-0 up in a matter of minutes and sealing the victory two minutes into the two hours.

The German had a very positive record against the Spaniard: on the seven occasions they had faced each other between 2020 and 2025, Davidovich had only managed to win the Canadian Masters in 2023.

Davidovich's victory guarantees a chance to break the Spanish 'curse' in Shanghai, as this is the only Masters 1,000 that has ever had a winner from the Iberian country.