Jodar Blasts Past Medvedev in Straight Sets to Book All-Spanish Shanghai Final

Twenty-year-old Rafael Jodar is one win from the biggest title of his young career after dismissing fifth seed Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-4 in the Shanghai Masters semifinals on Saturday.

The 12th seed, already the youngest semifinalist in tournament history, needed just 1 hour 44 minutes on Stadium Court to see off the 2019 champion. It was a statement performance — unlike his four earlier matches this week, all won from a set down, Jodar took control early and never let go, converting four of seven break points while the Russian managed only two of six.

The match was not without theatre. Serving at 4-2, 40-40 in the opener, Jodar's cross-court forehand clipped the line before Medvedev sprayed his reply long. Convinced the penultimate shot had been wide, Medvedev demanded the replay and, when umpire Adel Nour explained protocol only covers the last shot of a rally, the Russian threatened to retire on the spot: he was not moving until he saw the ball. The replay eventually shown confirmed Jodar's shot was in and the point stood.

Medvedev broke back to level the second set at 2-2, but Jodar regrouped to close it out 6-4. He now meets fellow Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina — who stunned top seed Alexander Zverev earlier Saturday — in Sunday's all-Spanish final.