Alexander Zverev will remember the Rolex Shanghai Masters as the tournament that confirmed he would finish year-end World No. 1.
But the memory will be extra sweet if it comes with a title.
The 29-year-old continues his drive for just that on Saturday when he takes a commanding 6-1 head-to-head lead over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina into their semi-final. He’ll have confidence in both his body of work against the Spaniard and in the form he finds himself in at the business end of the tournament.
This year’s Roland Garros and US Open champion, Zverev played his best match of the tournament in the quarter-finals to defeat Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4.
“I feel like today the level was a lot higher from my end than the last couple of matches,” said Zverev, who put 80 per cent of first serves into play. “I'm definitely satisfied with the increase in level.”
Zverev has won 62 matches this season, 17 more than any other player. He will contest his 28th ATP Masters 1000 semi-final. For context, Pete Sampras made 31 semi-finals at this level and Andre Agassi 32.
Davidovich Fokina, who is up eight spots this fortnight to No. 18 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, should come into the match fresh after playing just five games in the past three days after Arthur Gea retired at 1-4 in Thursday’s quarter-final with a psoas injury.
That was a much-needed respite for the Spaniard, who in his previous two matches survived third-set tie-breaks against Frances Tiafoe, who held a match point, and 2023 champion Hubert Hurkacz.
“Do you think I need tennis after Tiafoe and Hurkacz? I don't think so,” Davidovich Fokina said when asked if the Gea retirement would hurt his rhythm. “I'm good enough about tennis. I feel sorry for him, but I'm happy to be in the next round.
“I've been on court a lot of time, and my body has to recover. I'm blessed that I have two days more to recover better my body.”
The No. 25 seed is on an eight-match winning streak in China, having won Chengdu in the first week of the swing.
Daniil Medvedev vs. Rafael Jodar
Fast-rising Spaniard Rafael Jodar has been claiming statement wins throughout his blistering debut season. But none would be bigger than beating in-form 2019 Shanghai champion Daniil Medvedev to reach his first ATP Masters 1000 final.
By becoming the youngest semi-finalist in tournament history, 20-year-old Jodar has surged to ninth place in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin, effectively inside the cut for the Nitto ATP Finals following Jannik Sinner’s decision to end his season.
Jodar has had to work hard for his place on the final weekend, stringing together four consecutive come-from-behind victories, including Friday’s victory over former World No. 2 Casper Ruud. It was his 42nd match win of the year.
“I’m super happy how the season is going,” Jodar said. “Very high level, but still a lot of things to improve, which is very good because that means I can become a better player in the future.”
By defeating Tommy Paul in three sets Friday, Medvedev moved to 45 wins on the season, second only to Alexander Zverev’s 62. The 2021 US Open champion said that he intended to play his normal game in his first meeting with Jodar.
“I feel it's a fast court, so it always comes down to trying to break your opponent, be strong on the serve, and whoever is on other side, try to hit some aces.
“But, of course, during the match we're going to see each other how we play. I'm expecting a tough match, I'm going to try to play my best.”
Medvedev has won 11 of 12 matches played during the Asian swing, winning the title in Hangzhou and reaching the Beijing semi-finals.
