Jodar Becomes Youngest Shanghai Masters Semifinalist with Comeback Win Over Ruud

Rafael Jodar keeps finding a way. The 20-year-old Spaniard dropped the opening set for the fourth match in a row at the Shanghai Masters, then roared back to defeat Casper Ruud 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in Friday's quarter-final, becoming the youngest semifinalist in the tournament's history. Ruud controlled the key moments of the first set, riding his serve to a lead. But Jodar recalibrated, broke the Norwegian five times across the final two sets, and closed out a two-hour, twenty-minute victory that continues his dream week in China. Since the Shanghai Masters began in 2009, no semifinalist has been younger than the 20-year-old Spaniard. "I couldn't win the break points because of his serve, so I knew I wanted to come back again," Jodar said. "It was very tough, so I had to give my best level today to win this match." A showdown with Daniil Medvedev now awaits. The Russian, champion in Shanghai in 2019, beat American Tommy Paul 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 to reach his 70th tour-level semifinal. Medvedev dropped the second set in a wobble but steadied in the decider with 16 aces and 31 winners, then praised his upcoming opponent's firepower. The other semifinal pits top seed Alexander Zverev against Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Saturday.