Rafael Jodar produced one of the biggest comebacks of the Cincinnati Open so far, recovering from 1-5 down in the deciding set to defeat Denis Shapovalov 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 and reach the third round.
The 19-year-old Spaniard appeared to be heading out when Shapovalov served for the match at 5-1 in the final set. Instead, Jodar found another level and reeled off six consecutive games to complete a stunning turnaround.
Jodar remained composed under pressure, producing aggressive tennis and holding his nerve during the most important points. The victory highlighted the resilience that has become a defining feature of his breakthrough season.
"I had to give it all today to win this match," Jodar said after the contest.
The victory is another significant milestone in what has been a remarkable 2026 campaign for Jodar. He began the year outside the Top 100 but has since climbed rapidly up the rankings, reaching a career-high No. 11.
The former University of Virginia player has enjoyed particularly strong results during the North American hard-court swing. He finished runner-up at the ATP 500 event in Washington before reaching the semi-finals at the Montreal Masters 1000.
His ability to perform when matches reach a deciding set has also been a major strength. Jodar owns a 14-3 record in deciding sets this season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.
That consistency has pushed him to seventh in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin, putting him firmly in contention for a place at the Nitto ATP Finals in November.
Jodar's impressive run in Cincinnati will now be tested by Alejandro Tabilo in the third round. The Chilean advanced after beating Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-4.
The winner will then face either seventh seed Flavio Cobolli or 28th seed Alexander Blockx for a place in the quarter-finals.
Cobolli advanced with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Miomir Kecmanovic, while Blockx defeated Mariano Navone 6-3, 6-4.
With the draw beginning to open up, Jodar has a valuable opportunity to extend his Cincinnati campaign. More importantly, his latest comeback has provided another reminder of why the teenager has quickly become one of the most exciting young players on the ATP Tour.
