Rafael Jodar Shines at Shanghai Masters, Reaches Quarterfinals as Second Youngest Player

Shanghai, October 14 (Daily Kiran) : Rafael Jodar showcased impressive resilience as he fought back after losing a set for the third consecutive match, securing his place in the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters. This tournament is one of the premier events on the ATP Masters 1000 circuit.

The 20-year-old Jodar triumphed over Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp in a grueling match that lasted 2 hours and 30 minutes, ending with scores of 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-2. After dropping the first set, Jodar regained his momentum, winning the next two sets to clinch the victory. With this win, he has now become the second youngest player to reach the quarterfinals at the Shanghai Masters.

The record for the youngest quarterfinalist belongs to Jakub Mensik, who made it to the 2024 Shanghai Masters quarterfinals at just 19 years old. Van de Zandschulp started strong, saving both break points in the first set and taking the lead in the tie-break. However, Jodar did not falter, finding his rhythm in the second set and gradually taking control of the match, ultimately securing his spot in the quarterfinals. According to ATP Tour reports, this marks Jodar’s debut tournament in Shanghai.

This victory has also bolstered Jodar’s hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals. Currently, he is having his first full season on the ATP Tour, with a win-loss record of 41-16 this year. He ranks 11th in the ATP Live Race to Turin, just 131 points behind 10th-ranked Novak Djokovic. Jodar is vying for a place in the prestigious ATP Finals for the first time.

After the match, Jodar reflected, “I think I was doing the right things, but he played the crucial points better than me in the tie-break, which is why he won the first set. I only had two break points. I started the second set with a break, which helped me move ahead and get into a better position. I’m very happy with how today’s match went.” His next challenge will be against either fourth-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime or Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals.

Later in the day, Daniil Medvedev will face Stefanos Tsitsipas in what is anticipated to be one of the most exciting matches of the tournament. Medvedev, the 2019 champion, has made a strong comeback, climbing back to the world number six ranking after a successful run this year, including reaching the semifinals and winning 43 matches. He is also in the race for a spot in the Nitto ATP Finals.

Tsitsipas has also bounced back from a difficult period, where an injury and poor form saw his ranking drop to 88 in June. However, he has recently regained form, returning to the top 40. Tsitsipas recorded his 34th win of the year by defeating Taylor Fritz in the third round of the Shanghai Masters. Additionally, he reached a career milestone with his 400th professional victory against Luciano Darderi in the previous round.