Davidovich Fokina Into Shanghai Semifinals as Géa Retires Hurt After 22 Minutes

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is through to the semifinals of the Shanghai Masters after Arthur Géa was forced to retire from their quarterfinal on Thursday, trailing 4-1 in the opening set. The Spaniard broke serve in the first game and was in control throughout the 22-minute encounter before the Frenchman, who had stunned Ben Shelton and Jakub Mensik en route to the last eight, signaled he could not continue. Davidovich Fokina later said he had not realized Géa was struggling until the final game, expressing sympathy for his opponent while acknowledging the satisfaction of reaching the tournament's final four. It is the fourth Masters 1000 semifinal of the 26-year-old's career, and it caps a remarkable fortnight of resilience. The Spaniard returned this season after two months away with a back injury and has survived back-to-back three-set marathons in Shanghai, beating Frances Tiafoe in nearly three hours before coming from 5-0 down to edge Hubert Hurkacz 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(6), saving four break points in the decider. The anticlimactic quarterfinal at least hands him a precious extra recovery day. He will face either top seed Alexander Zverev or Australia's Alex de Minaur, whose quarterfinal follows later on Thursday, for a place in Sunday's final.