Alejandro Davidovich Fokina shocks Alexander Zverev in the Shanghai Masters

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is victorious over Alexander Zverev. Plays the winner of Daniil Medvedev and Rafael Jodar in the finals. | Photo Credit: AP

Alexander Zverev has been stunned by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, 7-5, 4-6, 3-6, in the semifinals of the Shanghai Masters on Saturday. Zverev will be disappointed not to reach the finals in Shanghai, as he did last year.

Zverev won the first set with some solid serves and by breaking Davidovich Fokina’s serve at 5-5. The second set also featured strong serving until Davidovich Fokina’s impressive backhand, at a pivotal moment, broke Zverev’s serve to take the set 6-4. Utilising this momentum, the Spaniard broke Zverev’s first serve in the third set and held his serve to win the third set 6-3.

“I was a little bit nervous,” Davidovich Fokina said of his shaky start.

“But I keep going, I keep fighting, every ball,” he said.

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The German has had a strong year, winning the French Open and the US Open and finishing runner-up at Wimbledon. His success this year has officially clinched the ATP year-end No. 1 ranking.

However, the German noted that fatigue had caught up with him, saying, “I think a break is quite necessary now.”

“I carried a little bit of injury, I carried fatigue into the tournament, and I’m okay to lose to a player like this today,” said Zverev, who had felt his ankle at times in Shanghai.

Davidovich Fokina will play the winner between Daniil Medvedev and Rafael Jodar in the final on Sunday.