Rafael Jodar continued his remarkable rise on the ATP Tour by defeating former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-4 in the semi-finals of the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Saturday, October 17.
The 20-year-old Spaniard delivered a composed performance to reach his first ATP Masters 1000 final, securing his second victory over a top-10 opponent. He needed one hour and 44 minutes to overcome the fifth-seeded Russian and set up an all-Spanish final against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Jodar's victory also made him the youngest finalist in Shanghai Masters history. He is the first player born in 2006 or later to reach an ATP Masters 1000 final, underlining the scale of his breakthrough season.
The Spaniard handled the important moments particularly well against Medvedev, the 2019 Shanghai champion. Although both players created opportunities in a closely contested opening set, Jodar made better use of his chances to establish control.
“It was a very tough match,” Jodar said. “I am super happy with how I handled the important moments in the first set and how I served and returned. Daniil is a very tough player. He played great today, so I had to play my best level to play him.”
Jodar finished with 22 winners, compared with Medvedev's 14, using his accuracy and timing to move the Russian around the court. Even after losing his break advantage in the second set, the young Spaniard remained composed and won three of the final four games to seal the victory.
His run in Shanghai has been particularly impressive given the challenges he faced earlier in the tournament. Jodar came from a set down in each of his first four matches before producing a straight-sets performance against Medvedev.
The result adds to an impressive season for the Spaniard, who claimed his maiden ATP Tour title in Marrakech earlier this year before finishing runner-up at the ATP 500 event in Washington in August. He also reached the semi-finals in Montreal, establishing himself as one of the tour's emerging talents.
Jodar's progress could have further implications beyond Shanghai. His run has strengthened his position in the race to qualify for the ATP Finals in Turin, where the season's leading players compete in November. At the time of his semi-final victory, he sat ninth in the live standings and was within reach of a place in the season-ending event.
A victory in the Shanghai final would also give Jodar a chance to break into the ATP Top 10 for the first time, a remarkable prospect for a player who began the year outside the world's top 100.
Standing in his way is compatriot Davidovich Fokina, who defeated top seed Alexander Zverev 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 in the other semi-final. The final will mark the ninth all-Spanish championship match in ATP Masters 1000 history.
With a first Masters 1000 title within reach, Jodar now has an opportunity to cap his breakthrough campaign with the biggest trophy of his career. His victory over Medvedev has already established him as one of the standout stories of the 2026 season, and Sunday's final offers another chance to confirm his arrival among the sport's rising stars.
