Medvedev ousted as Jodar reaches Shanghai Masters final

Rafael Jodar is ecstatic after defeating Daniil Medvedev in straight sets to reach the finals against fellow Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina | Photo Credit: Reuters

World No. 13, Rafael Jodar, defeated Daniil Medvedev in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.

The semifinal victory means that he will face fellow Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the final of the Shanghai Masters on Sunday.

Despite a straight-sets victory, it was by no means an easy win for Jodar. In the first set, he broke Medvedev’s serve twice, the Russian, however, matched the intensity with a break of his own while also saving four set points before eventually losing the set 6-3.

In the second set, in very humid conditions, Jodar broke Medvedev’s first service game, but like the first set, the world No. 6 came back to break the Spaniard’s serve as well. After a few well-contested service games, Jodar eventually broke Medvedev’s serve one last time and took the set 6-4.

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“It was very fun. All the games were very close. Super happy with how I handled the important moments,” Jodar told after the match.

Jodar is in his first full season as a professional, having started the season ranked No. 168th. This will be his first ATP 1000 final when he faces the 26th-ranked Davidovich Fokina.